Rosacea Triggers
Exercise: Keeping Fit While Minimizing Flare-ups

Exercising without experiencing a flare-up can be particularly challenging. A survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society revealed that heavy exercise triggered a flare-up in 56% of the respondents. Here are some ways to minimize flare-ups while exercising.

• Try to exercise where it is cool.
   

• Make sure you are cool before you begin. If not, cool down with one or more of the cool-down strategies listed on this page.
   

• Take breaks as needed to cool down. A skater found that breaking every 15 minutes to cool down kept her flare-ups at bay.
   

• Lower the intensity. Lower intensity exercise still gives you the benefits of exercise.
   

• Increase the frequency. Instead of exercising for 45 minutes, exercise for three 15-minute sessions.
   

• Try aqua aerobics.
   

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sun exposure can cause rosacea to flare. Applying a sunscreen 20 minutes before heading outdoors helps to protect the skin, provided the product does not contain ingredients that irritate the skin.

People with rosacea often find that a sunscreen is well-tolerated when it offers UVA and UVB protection and contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. A sunscreen that contains silicone also can help protect the skin and minimize stinging and redness. On the list of ingredients, silicone may be called dimethicone or cyclomethicone.

• When exercising outdoors during warm weather, use these tactics:

  • Exercise in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler.

  • Avoid hot asphalt.

  • If the sun is out, opt for shaded trails.
     

• When exercising indoors, make sure the room is well ventilated and not too warm or stuffy.
   

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology