Facial flare-ups

What You Need To Know About Facial Flare-Ups

If you have rosacea or eczema, chances are you would have already experienced what facial flare-ups are. The itchy, stinging, and sometimes burning sensation of flare-ups is extremely uncomfortable and feels like it lasts for an eternity. However, depending on the skin condition you may have, different people will have different triggers. 

The length, severity, and frequency of your flare-ups are multi-factorial and are reliant on your existing condition and other external irritants like the environment, food you consume, and the activities you do. Therefore, it is important to listen and understand how your body reacts to your trigger, so you can make a proactive and informed decision when starting a preventative treatment plan. 

Explore What Is Triggering Your Flare-Ups 

Rosacea and eczema are chronic conditions with similar symptoms and are incurable. Rosacea usually results in reddened skin and blotches on the nose and cheeks. While eczema occurs in specific places of the body – on the neck, behind the knees, inside the elbows, and the eyelids and mouth area are common for those living with the disease. Their causes are complex and involve a combination of environmental and genetic factors. 

To find out what may be triggering your flare-ups, you will have to do some trial and error. For many people with rosacea and eczema, a good place to start would be understanding their family history and testing out some of the common triggers they should avoid. It will take some time and effort, but they are important in helping to manage your condition. 

These are some of the common triggers that many people living with rosacea and eczema have:

• Exposure to sunlight 
• Consumption of alcohol, spicy foods, dairy 
• Applying certain skin, makeup, and hair products
• Weather conditions like wind, heat, and cold
• Drug and medicine allergies
• Contact with chemicals in soaps, perfumes, and detergents 
• Wearing certain clothing with materials like synthetic fibers and wool
• Environmental irritants like smoke, sand, and dust
• Sweat from heavy exercising 
• Excessive stress over an extended period

Keeping Track of Your Triggers

One way you can monitor your triggers is to keep a diary and record down the types of activities you have partaken in, the foods and beverages you have consumed, the types of skin, makeup or hair products you have used, and the weather you might have been exposed to for a period of two weeks. You should also record down your experience of your flare-ups if any. This is useful, as you can observe patterns and trends in your symptoms while allowing you to check for coinciding triggers with the list of common triggers above. 

Alternatively, you may also choose to opt for a phone app or document your flare-ups through photos, as it may be more convenient for tracking and documenting your daily experience with your triggers. These will be useful in providing your doctor with a better idea of your symptoms and subsequently help with a more precise treatment plan. However, they should not replace your doctor's advice, and instead should work as a supplement for your treatment plan. 

How You Can Reduce Your Flare-ups 

Once you have learned of your triggers for your flare-ups, it is time to incorporate some changes to your daily life. When it comes to your skincare, scale down your routine and instead use a fragrance-free, gentle cleanser followed by a scent-free moisturizer infused with ceramides. In addition, keep your daily showers and baths to no more than 10 minutes with lukewarm water to prevent drying out your skin and triggering your flare-ups.

It may also be the time to switch out your detergent and household cleaners that may be too stringent and abrasive to the skin. Instead, switch to a hypoallergenic, gentle, and fragrance-free brand that eschews any harsh chemicals that may trigger flare-ups. You may also want to consider having an anti-itch or anti-inflammatory cream on hand that contains ingredients such as ceramides, glycerine, fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid to manage the flare-ups

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