Managing Rosacea in the Summer

If you don’t already know then let me tell you I have rosacea.  It is the worse thing to have let me tell you. It’s on my face which means I have these huge red patches that cover parts of my face. Summer makes it worse and the biggest tip a dermatologist has given is to stay out of the sun between 10 and 2. Doing that allows you to avoid the most intense direct sunlight. It would also mean that I miss out on so many things. However, I  have learned a few tips to help with it.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must and I’m talking spf 70 or more. I have to protect my face and this will help do it. Another thing to remember is that it must be reapplied throughout the day regardless of if it’s sunny or cloudy. It wears off so once and done just doesn’t cut it. I have gotten into the routine of putting it on every single morning regardless of what I am doing. I carry some in my bag and car so I can reapply during the day.

During the summer when I am at the pool though I have to be more vigilant about it. Every time I get out of the pool I apply sunscreen on my face. Although I admit this may not be as often as I need to do it, I still manage to get more than I did when I was younger and used nothing. I do try to spend some time in the shade as well when I am at the pool at least. I will spend some time in the pool and then get out and spend a little while in the shade. That way I am not in direct sunlight the entire time.

Hats

Let’s face it without a hat I might as well not do anything. I wear a hat in the pool whenever I can as well. Did you know that you can get rosacea on your scalp? You can and having something on my head is the perfect solution. When I head out on vacation I always bring an assortment of hats with me although I will admit to favoring a bucket hat. They tend to stay on better in the Jeep for some reason. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve lost a hat or had to stop and go grab it from the road. 

If you ever ride with me you will find hats stashed in the console and the trunk area of the Jeep. That way I always have one with me and can’t use the excuse that I don’t have it. I also make sure to use the spider web thingy for the Jeep itself. It allows me to ride with the top down and cut some of the sun beating down on top of me. I still wear a hat though. If you ever see me out and about you know why that hat is on my head even when it’s 102 degrees outside. My hats are also one of the biggest reasons I don’t look like I am heading into my fifties. I don’t have crows feet or wrinkles anywhere on my face.

Cut Back

Cut back on the caffeine, spices, and alcohol. I know what you’re thinking! What is a summer barbeque without all of that? I agree but I have learned that if I cut back on those things (I can’t drink anymore at all anyway because of my medications) I have found that it will help keep my rosacea under control. All of those ingredients cause your blood vessels to enlarge and open up. For example, ever eaten something spicy and felt your face heat up?

That’s your blood vessels enlarging and opening up. They cause you to have that blush and when you have rosacea that blush will stay for days or even weeks. It is not always a good thing. Try to add in more foods like cucumbers, turmeric, cauliflower, and asparagus. All of which reduce inflammation and can help keep your face from blushing. I certainly try to have more salad and “cooler” foods in the summer. Mostly because I don’t want to cook and heat the house up when it’s already so hot.

Hydrate

This is so important even when you aren’t hot. When indoors I make sure I have a water bottle with cold water. That helps me stay cool and stay hydrated. While this seems like something we should do all of the time we all know we don’t. Not to mention when it is hot outside and you are out there having a good time reaching for water is the last thing you want to do. You want to have a beverage with your family and friends. I do this as well. That is why I fill my water bottle every single morning. I have one that holds the water and ice and keeps it cool. I can take it with me to the pool ro the barbeque and drink it throughout the day. 

Final Thoughts

I still have a soda or lemonade or whatever cold beverage. I just try to make sure that the majority of the time I am drinking water. Since I can no longer drink I try to fancy my water up a bit with flavors or whatever. However, most of the time I like it plain. I will also put it in a fancy glass so that no one notices it is just water. I look like everyone else having a good time. I feel like everyone else having a good time.

I know that these four things seem like the easiest things to do for the summer. However, I spent a number of years not doing a few of them. I didn’t think it mattered and I wonder if that is one of the reasons I have rosacea as badly as I do. I didn’t take as good a care of my face as I should have. Now, I do these four things religiously. I don’t ever skimp on them. Doing them means I don’t look like a tomato who has been left in the sun too long.