Here’s help for keeping your symptoms in check as summer creeps in: Cool off—quick. “Rosacea is greatly aggravated by heat,” says Richard Odom, MD, a professor of clinical dermatology at the University of California San Francisco. “Patients not only cite more frequent bouts of redness, but they also last longer.” When you feel your face heating up, grab a cold drink, suck on some ice, or apply a cold compress to your face to bring your skin’s temperature down. Strengthen your sun protection. Everybody needs to shield their skin from the sun, but skin with rosacea is extra sensitive—even the slightest unprotected sun exposure can trigger an outbreak. If you’re going to be spending time outside, wear a hat, find an umbrella, and slather on some fragrance-free SPF 30, says Odom. Arm yourself with aloe. Enlist the help of an aloe plant. Many of Odom’s patients find it beneficial to apply aloe directly from the plant (you just have to snap off a stem) to help quickly reduce inflammation by soothing and cooling the skin. Track your triggers. If you’ve sought treatment for rosacea, you’ve heard that keeping track of flare-ups can help you figure out the best treatment. The National Rosacea Society makes finding patterns easier with their Rosacea Diary Form. MORE: How To Tone Down Rosy Skin
