Rosacea triggers are the everyday things that set off flushing, burning, redness and bumps. Triggers are different for everyone. Knowing yours, and calming the skin underneath, is how you get fewer flare-ups.
The most common rosacea triggers
- Sun and heat: sun exposure, hot weather, saunas and hot showers.
- Hot drinks and spicy food: heat and spice both push blood to the face.
- Alcohol: red wine is a frequent culprit.
- Stress: emotional stress is one of the most commonly reported triggers.
- Cold wind and dry winter air: many people find rosacea worse in winter, when cold outside air and dry indoor heat strip the skin barrier.
- Harsh skincare: fragrance, alcohol-based toners, scrubs and strong exfoliants.
- Intense exercise: overheating during a workout.
How to find your triggers
For two to three weeks, jot down what you ate, drank and did on days you flare. Patterns show up fast. Most people have two or three main triggers, not ten.
Winter rosacea: why it can get worse
Cold wind outside and dry heat inside both weaken the skin barrier. A weaker barrier reacts more easily. To help:
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer.
- Cover your face in wind.
- Keep showers warm, not hot.
What calms rosacea when avoiding triggers isn’t enough
Avoiding triggers helps, but it doesn’t treat what’s driving the redness and bumps.
Rosacea ResQ is a prescription rosacea cream that pairs metronidazole 1% with ivermectin 1% in one lightweight, fragrance-free cream:
- Metronidazole 1% is a long-used prescription rosacea ingredient that calms the inflammation behind redness, papules and pustules.
- Ivermectin 1% targets the Demodex mites linked to rosacea flare-ups and helps reduce inflammatory bumps.
If your rosacea is mostly redness without bumps, look at 21AA 21% Azelaic Acid Cream instead.
A tip from our founder
A Greek yogurt facial can help rebalance the skin microbiome. It’s a simple at-home extra alongside your treatment.
How to get Rosacea ResQ
After checkout, you answer a short questionnaire. A licensed medical provider reviews it, typically within 1–3 business days, and writes your prescription. We compound your cream and ship it to you. The prescription is included, with no office visit and no subscription required.
Frequently asked questions
Can rosacea be cured?
Rosacea is managed rather than cured. Knowing your triggers and using the right prescription cream keeps flare-ups down.
Is rosacea worse in winter?
For many people, yes. Cold wind and dry indoor heat weaken the skin barrier.
What’s the difference between Rosacea ResQ and 21AA?
Rosacea ResQ is for bumps, redness and flare-ups. 21AA is better when rosacea is mostly redness without bumps.
Watch: Rosacea Flushing, Burning and Flare-Ups: A Prescription Option