What rosacea looks like can differ from person to person. It can include a few red bumps that look like acne or inflamed red patches across your nose and cheeks. Winter rosacea is especially tough to manage, but why is that the case? Let’s take a look.
Why Rosacea is Worse in Winter
There are a few different reasons rosacea can become more pronounced in the wintertime. With cold winds hitting your skin, it can irritate the blood vessels and can cause an increase in symptoms.
Winter is also the time when we turn up the heat, but too-hot temperatures can increase blood flow and trigger a rosacea flare-up as well.
Dry skin is also a well-known problem during the winter and that can also cause a flare-up.
How to Protect Your Skin During the Winter
Now that you know what leads to worse rosacea in the winter, how do you prevent flare-ups during the wintertime? There are a few tips to keep triggers for rosacea at bay.
Protect Your Skin from Wind
To manage your rosacea during cold winter months, do your best to protect your skin from wide temperature swings. A soft scarf to protect your nose and cheeks from cold winds is a good idea. Limiting your time outside in the cold winter can also benefit your skin.
Moisturize and Hydrate
When you get indoors, moisturize and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water in winter. It will help keep your skin hydrated and supple and reduce the risk of a flare-up.
Avoid Too Much Heat
It may be tempting to linger at the oven baking cookies or making soup, but the excess heat on your face may do more harm than good. As much as possible, warm your body without exposing your face to a blast of heat.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
It may seem strange to wear sunscreen in winter, but UV rays can trigger a rosacea flare-up in any season. For those who wear make-up, it may make sense to use a base moisturizer or foundation product that offers a high SPF all year long.
Keep a Handle on Your Stress
Winter holidays can be fun, but they also take a lot of work and require a great deal of planning. Block out time every day for a bit of meditation, reading, crafting, or journaling. These simple activities can help you de-stress and decrease the possibility of your rosacea becoming worse.
Get Plenty of Sleep
During the darkest days of the year, we tend to use a lot of artificial light. If you struggle to fall asleep at night, do your best to avoid artificial light in the hour or so before bedtime. Turn off screens around you. Use low-light sources and lamps or candles to see what you need to do. Getting enough sleep can help every aspect of your health and life, including your skin.
Permanent Cosmetic Treatments
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Aerolase at Trillium Creek Dermatology use light to target problem areas within your skin and reduce the appearance of redness and visible veins on your face.
Schedule A Consultation
Are you struggling with rosacea and can’t seem to get it under control? Our team at Trillium Creek Dermatology can help you achieve the healthy and beautiful skin you’re looking for. Schedule a consultation today by calling one of our Ohio locations at 330.725.0569 or using our online scheduling tool.
