This list is meant to be a tool to help Rosacea patients and others with red symptoms of the skin to find the culprits that instigate flare ups of their symptoms. We update this list as new information is found in our ongoing research. Some of the information comes to us from medical doctors, university studies, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, aestheticians, cosmetic chemists, dentists and pharmacists. Browse the list and see if anything looks like it has affected you and then discuss that with your medical or aesthetic practitioner for guidance. If its merely a food or environmental source...just avoid it for a few days to see the effect. If it's your prescription medication, consult your pharmacist and doctor before you take any action! I have found that pharmacists gladly discuss my prescriptions with me and know more about any side effects than most doctors. If you have a medical university near you, their pharmacology department would be a wealth of free information, too.
These triggers may not affect every one with Rosacea, and sometimes one person doesn't react to the same trigger every exposure. These can be triggers for other health issues, like melasma and eczema as well. This list is meant to be used to alert our readers to the possibilities and then to take responsible action to find out if it's causing you problems.
Another suggestion I might add: leave your street shoes and coat at the entrance to your home when you step inside. So many toxic fluids and debris are carried onto our floors and carpets on our shoes in particular. When I stood at the entrance to a grocery store recently and watched how many people stepped right into oily stains in the parking lot I couldn't believe my eyes. Think about it! Your shoes are carrying this stuff home. If you have small children that spend time on the floor playing, its even more important to control how clean your floors are. Many skin problems are related to allergies from the fumes of toxins in your home and work environment. Don't forget to wash hands frequently and briskly rub or brush the cleanser before rinsing well in warm to hot water.
If you have stubborn symptoms that just don't respond to medical, nutritional or cosmetic treatment, consider asking your physician if stool, blood or saliva testing is available. Normally, practitioners of natural medicine and Chinese medicine/acupuncture are inclined to take this approach to a diagnosis. That way, finding bacterial infections, parasites and viruses will change the strategy toward your improved health and speed up the process in general.
Drugs used on topical medications and cosmetics:
Amino benzoic Acid (PABA) used in sunscreen cosmetics
Avobenzone (aka butyl methoxydibenzoylemethane, Parsol 1789) used in sunscreens
Benzocaine
Benzoyl Peroxide (used in acne medications and cosmetics)
Benzyl Nicotinate
Capsaicin
Corticosteroids
Diethanolamine p-methoxycinnamate (sunscreens)
Dicxybenzone
Esthylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate
Ethyl Salicylate
Glycol salicylate
Hydrocortisone
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydroquinone - pigment lightening agent
Methyl nicotinate
Methyl salicylate
Octinoxate (formerly octyl methoxycinnamate) - sunscreen
Oxybenzone
Resorcinol
Retinoids (tretinoin, Renova, Retin-A, Avita, Differin)
Salicylic Acid
Sulisobenzone
Topical antihistamines
Trichloroacetic acid
Triclosan
Drugs Taken Oral or Inhaled:
Alcohol (ethanol, spirits)
Aminophyllin
Anabolic steroids
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (aka ACE inhibitors)
Aspartame (NutraSweet)
Aspirin
Calcitonin
Calcium channel blockers
Cocaine
Cortiscosteroids
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone
Ibuprofen
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Marijuana
Naproxen (Naprosyn)
Niacin (aka Vitamin B3)
Nicotine
Nifedipine
Nitrates (food related)
Nitroglycerin
Opioid narcotics (morphine, codeine, thebaine, methadone, Demerol, Darvon, Dolophine, Vicodin, Percodan, Dilaudid)
Progesterone
Simvastatin (Zocor)
Sodium monoglutamate (food related)
Theophylline
Vancomycin
Vasodilators
Viagra
Drugs used in Cosmetics:
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
Acetone
Albumin (egg whites)
Alcohol (volatile only: ethanol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, isopropanol, SD alcohol, alcohol denatured)
Algae
Alpha hydroxy acids and salts (including but not limited to: glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, sodium glycolate, ammonium glycolate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate)
Ammonia
Arachidonic acid
Arnica oil
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C)
Balsam Peru
Barley
Bay laurel oil
Bayberry oil
Bentonite
Benzalkonium chloride
Benzophenones
Bergamot oil
Bitter orange oil
Black pepper oil
Bromelain
Caffeine
Camphor oil
Capsicum
Cayenne
Cetrimonium bromide
Chamomile oil
Cinnamic aldehyde
Cinnamon oil
Clove oil
Cocoa butter
Coriander oil (from the seeds of Cilantro)
Corn extract
Cornstarch
Diazolindinyl urea
DMAE
DMDM hydantoin
Eucalyptus oil
Fennel oil or extract
Fir needle oil
Fragrance (synthetic or natural)
Gernaiol (found in palmarosa oil, geranium oil, jasmine oil, lavender oil, citronella oil, rose oil and many other essential oils used in aromatherapy and skin care products, shampoos and make up)
Ginger
Ginseng
Granular exfoliants (including Loofah, oatmeal, peach kernels, walnut shells, salt, sand, pumice, diatomaceous earth, microdermabrasion crystals, jojoba beads, polyethylene beads)
Grapefruit oil or extract
Imidazolidinyl urea
Iodine
Lanolin
Lecithin
Lemon oil
Lemongrass oil
Lime oil
Mannan
Menthol
Mica
Montmorilonite
Mustard
Myrrh Oil
Nettle
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Nutmeg Oil
Oak moss extract
Oats
Orange oil
PABA (sunscreen)
Papain (enzyme found in digestive remedies, skin exfoliating cosmetics)
Papaya extract (found in many cosmetics)
Peanut oil
Pennyroyal
Peppermint
Phenol
Phenoxyethanol
Phosphatidylcholine
Pine oil
Propylene glycol
Quarternium-15
Retinol (vitamin A)
Rosemary oil
Rue oil
Saccharomyces (yeast)
Saccharomyces lysate
Sage essential oil
Salicylic acid (BHA)
Sandalwood oil
Seaweed
Sesame oil
Sodium C14-16
Sodium laureth sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Soy protein
Spearmint oil
Stearic acid
Stearalkonium chloride
Sulfur
Tangerin oil
TEA-lauryl sulfate
Tea tree oil (maleleuca)
Thyme essential oil
Tocopherol
Tocopheryl nicotinate
Turmeric oil
Vanilla extract or oil
Wintergreen
Witch hazel (when in alcohol or propylene glycol)
Ylang-ylang oil
Environmental Triggers:
history of sun burns (impairs immune system)
history of acne
Demodex mites (more info...)
house hold dust
house hold cleansers and sprays, insecticides, aromatherapies and room deodorizers