Winter can be a tough season when you have rosacea. It comes with a lot of flare-up triggers and skincare challenges. It’s enough to make you dread the end of autumn and hope for spring to get here as soon as possible. To make the winter a little easier to deal with, read these tips on how to handle triggers and reduce your chances of flare-ups. If you are looking for a Toronto Rosacea clinic that specializes in laser treatment – give the doctors at the Baywood Clinic a call.

Trigger #1: Cold Weather

Rosacea doesn’t like extreme temperatures. You’ll notice that your rosacea is harder to control in the middle of sweltering summer heatwaves. You’ll experience the same problem when you expose your skin to the bitter winter weather. Exposure to the extreme cold and wind is a surefire way to provoke a flare-up.

People who live in mild and consistent climates won’t have to worry too much about this. But, members of the Greater Toronto Area know that cold weather alerts are not out of the ordinary during the winter. You can’t stay indoors for a quarter of the year. You have to get around while keeping control of your rosacea.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Avoid going outside during cold weather alerts and harsh storms if you can help it. Reschedule your plans for a milder day.
  • Don’t overdo it with your winter clothing. Wearing anything that will make you feel overheated can also trigger a flare-up. Instead of picking one massive puffy coat, wear layers that you can easily pull off. That way, you can transition from the frigid outdoors to heated indoor locations without getting immediately flushed.
  • Protect your face from the wind. You can use a scarf in a soft material to cover up your chin, cheeks, nose and mouth. Use a hood or a hat in a similar material to shield your forehead.
  • When it comes to accessories, pick materials that are good for sensitive skin. A material like wool is excellent for warmth, but lots of people have a wool sensitivity and find that they get rashes whenever they wear it. You don’t want to irritate your skin, especially on your face.

Trigger #2: Extreme Heat

When the weather is cold outside, people turn up the heat indoors. The problem with doing this is that dry indoor heat can trigger a rosacea flare-up. To prevent this from happening, you should set the thermostat at a moderate heat. Use a humidifier to put some moisture back into the air. And apply a dermatologist-approved moisturizer once or twice a day to keep skin from drying out.

Trigger #3: Sunlight

Don’t stop practicing responsible suncare in the winter. The hours of daylight may be shorter, and the weather may be cloudier, but UV rays are still powerful. Getting an unexpected sunburn can quickly transform into a painful flare-up. You should apply a dermatologist-approved sunscreen to your face before you go outside, even if it’s overcast.

Trigger #4: Seasonal Foods

Sadly, seasonal food isn’t always rosacea-friendly. A hot dish like a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup is a great way to warm up after walking through the snow, but the steam from the hot broth can make your cheeks flush. The same is true for seasonal drinks like hot cocoa, apple cider and hot toddies. Try to follow a rosacea diet by steering clear of any dishes and drinks that could provoke flare-ups.

Here are some popular items to avoid:

  • Alcohol
  • Spicy foods
  • Refined sugar
  • Chocolate
  • Cinnamon
  • Tomatoes
  • Citrus fruits

The key to understanding Rosacea is knowing that not every case is the same. Some triggers won’t affect you as much as it affects other people with the condition, and some triggers will bother you more. This fact makes rosacea a little more challenging to manage. You will have to put time and effort into finding some of the answers yourself.

Keep an eye on your flare-ups. That way, you’ll notice patterns and learn what things bother you. So, if you notice a flare-up every time you forget to put on sunscreen, you know that you have to practice better suncare to control your chronic skin condition.

how to take care of rosacea tips

Laser Treatment Can Help

Pulsed-dyed laser therapy is one of the best rosacea treatments in downtown Toronto that you can invest in. Patients often come to our skin clinic after getting unsatisfactory results using topical medication, and they leave absolutely pleased with their long-lasting results.

We use the VBeam laser at our Toronto Rosacea Clinic to tackle redness and broken blood vessels in the face. The laser heats up and destroys excess blood vessels, which are then absorbed into the body. The process can cause some flushing or bruising, but that clears up soon after. The flushing will last for a few hours, and the bruising will disappear in 2 to 3 days.

After 3 to 4 rounds of laser therapy, a patient will notice these benefits:

  • Decreased facial redness
  • Faded appearance of acne scars
  • Reduced intensity of flushing

Patients will want to come back to the clinic for a round of “maintenance” every 12 to 18 months. That way, they can prolong their favourable results. Another good way to keep up a clearer complexion is to avoid triggers like the ones listed above.

Before your first session, you should schedule a consultation at our Toronto Rosacea clinic.  One of our board-certified medical physicians will discuss your treatment options and check your medical history. It’s possible that you’re not eligible for rosacea treatment at the time, but you will be in the future.

For instance, if you have inflamed lesions on your face, you will have to wait until they are fully-healed before moving forward. Our physicians want to make sure you leave with excellent results. Your safety and comfort come first.

You can book a consultation before your first appointment at our Rosacea laser clinic in Toronto by calling 416-515-0007. After booking the consultation, you should explore more of our website and blog. We have a number of articles about rosacea, acne and laser therapy that you will appreciate. We also have articles about our other helpful services like laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, Botox, Juvederm, and spider vein removal.

You can make this winter much easier by preparing for these common rosacea triggers: extreme cold, indoor heat, sunlight and seasonal foods. And for the best results, start getting laser therapy treatment. You’ll notice a great improvement this year.