A recent NRS survey found that while most rosacea patients pay attention to the ingredients in the skin-care products and cosmetics they use, for many it's a process of trial and error to determine what ingredients to avoid in their particular case.

In the survey of 771 rosacea patients, 90 percent of respondents said they read the ingredient labels of skin-care and cosmetic products before purchasing them, and 86 percent said there were specific ingredients they avoid because of their potential to irritate the skin or cause a rosacea flare-up.

Alcohol was the most commonly avoided ingredient, with 77 percent of respondents saying they limited use of products containing it. Sixty-four percent of respondents steered clear of products containing fragrance, 42 percent avoided dyes and pigments, and 41 percent looked out for menthol. About a third of respondents avoided purchasing products containing witch hazel, sulfates, citrus juice or oil, or paraben preservatives, and 30 percent avoided alpha hydroxy or mint.

Two thirds of those taking the survey determined which ingredients to avoid by trying a product containing the ingredient and noting whether it negatively affected their skin, often through a process of elimination. In addition, many respondents said they read about certain ingredients that could be irritating or learned about them from their doctor.

As on patient commented, "I read all labels -- my skin is too important to take a chance!"