Q. Are tanning beds better or worse than the sun for rosacea patients?
A. In a National Rosacea Society (NRS) patient survey, sun exposure ranked as one of the most common rosacea triggers. At the same time, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has conducted a public awareness campaign to warn against the dangers of indoor tanning.
The AAD urges individuals to avoid tanning beds because they produce some of the same ultraviolet light (UVA) as the sun and can lead to severe dermatological problems. The Academy suggests that people who want to look like they've been in the sun consider using a sunless self-tanning product.
Q. I seem to have a flushing episode every day around 3:30 p.m. when I'm at work. Could caffeine be the culprit?
A. In a clinical study, it was determined that the heat in beverages, not the caffeine, leads to flushing.1 The study found that both hot coffee and hot water led to flushing reactions, while cool coffee or water did not. Since you suspected your flushing might be caused by caffeine, try staying away from heated beverages for a couple of days to see if those episodes disappear. Coffee or tea may be fine, as long as they're not hot.
Associated Reference
- Wilkin JK. Rosacea: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacy Times. 1990;May:27-30.