Heat often brings on the signs and symptoms of rosacea, and this can be a problem even in the frosty winter months, according to a recent National Rosacea Society survey of 424 rosacea patients.

Overly warm rooms, common in winter, often induce rosacea flare-ups, as 56 percent of survey respondents said indoor heat had caused an outbreak. Hot baths, another frequent antidote for chilly winter days, were a temperature-related trigger for 53 percent, while the heat generated by heavy exercise caused a flare-up in 55 percent. Other heat-related triggers included the hot beverages favored by many after a foray into the cold, cited by 42 percent of the respondents, as well as the ubiquitous heavy clothing of winter, named by 31 percent.

“While medical therapy is fundamental in managing rosacea, avoidance of lifestyle or environmental factors that trigger flare-ups in individual cases is also crucial,” said Dr. Lisa Maier, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan. “Patients who both comply with medical therapy and avoid their individual triggers are much more likely to maintain remission of their rosacea symptoms.”

Respondents indicated they make an effort to avoid temperature-related flare-ups as much as possible. The biggest behavioral change reported was in the way people bathe: Seventy-three percent of the respondents said they always or sometimes bathe or shower in cooler water since their rosacea diagnosis. Sixty-seven percent said they frequently or sometimes leave a heated room in an effort to avoid a flare-up.

The sun and warm weather were nearly universal heat-related rosacea triggers identified by the survey, both cited by 81 percent of the respondents. Menopausal hot flashes were another common source of heat-related flare-ups for 26 percent.

Rosacea.org offers an extensive list of common rosacea triggers, as well as tools for identifying and avoiding them.