Sure, you'll suspend your mail delivery and find a pet sitter, but you should also be sure to plan your trip with rosacea in mind. Depending on your individual sensitivities, the following suggestions can help lead to a much more enjoyable getaway.

Since sun exposure is a common trigger factor for rosacea, proper sun protection may be a key to staying free of flare-ups this summer. Here are tips for using sunscreen this season and all year round.

A sunny, bright spring day can be a warm and invigorating outdoor adventure, but for many rosacea sufferers it's a call to remember to take special precautions against sun exposure.

"The significance of sun-damaged skin in rosacea cannot be stressed enough," said Dr. Joseph Bikowski, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. "Protection from the sun should be an integral part of any rosacea treatment regimen."

While sun exposure is one of the most common trigger factors for flare-ups, finding a sunscreen that does not irritate the face can be a challenge for many rosacea sufferers.

"Individuals with rosacea are often uniquely sensitive to topical preparations applied to the face," said Dr. Mark Lebwohl, chairman of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. "For this reason, attention to ingredients can help patients find products that work best for them."

The sun can be warm and invigorating, but for many rosacea sufferers, it's a reason to take special precautions. In fact, sun exposure was ranked as the leading rosacea trigger by 61 percent of rosacea patients in a National Rosacea Society survey.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

In rosacea, are visible dilated blood vessels -- called telangiectasia -- the result of damaged connective tissue, or is it the damaged blood vessels themselves that have a degrading effect on the connective tissue? Experts have discussed both possibilities.

Most people look forward to hot summer days when they can soak in the sun and enjoy a variety of activities outdoors. But for many rosacea sufferers, summer fun can trigger unsightly flare-ups that inevitably put a chill on the season. Here are some precautions you can take:

• Sun exposure is the most common rosacea tripwire, so wear sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher every day -- even when it is overcast. If sunscreen irritates your skin, try a pediatric formulation.

Unlike the lyrics in the Gershwin song, when it's "summertime" the living can be anything but easy for rosacea sufferers. Fortunately, while it's the season when rosacea tends to heat up just like the outdoors, most of these problems can be overcome with proper precautions.

In a National Rosacea Society survey of more than 700 rosacea patients, 71 percent said their condition was affected by changing seasons and 57 percent named summer as the time when their rosacea is at its worst.

With spring blossoming and summer approaching, a majority of rosacea sufferers may find they must take special precautions to avoid flare-ups, according to a survey by the National Rosacea Society.

In the survey of more than 700 rosacea sufferers, 71 percent said their condition was affected by changes in seasons. Of all the seasons, summer was found the hardest to endure by most, with 57 percent of the respondents reporting that their symptoms are at their worst during this time of year.