If your rosacea is affected by certain spicy foods, they may have no place in your picnic basket this summer. It's not just the popular south-of-the-border cuisines that can lead to the red rash of rosacea in many individuals, but many other ingredients as well, according to a new survey of more than 500 rosacea patients by the National Rosacea Society.

Without special precautions, you may be heading for a flare-up this summer as sun, stress and hot weather were cited as the most common rosacea tripwires in a new survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society. The survey of 1,066 rosacea patients provides the most comprehensive ranking to date of the multitude of things that may trigger or aggravate the signs and symptoms of rosacea in various individuals.

In a new survey, rosacea patients cited the most common factors that triggered or aggravated their individual conditions.

Q. I was diagnosed with rosacea several years ago, but I've never had any visible blood vessels, bumps or pimples. I have eye irritation, and have only experienced some redness on my face. Is it possible for rosacea not to include its most common signs?

A. The signs and symptoms of rosacea can vary substantially from one patient to another, and may include various combinations of signs and symptoms.

Discovering and avoiding your own individual rosacea tripwires can be a challenge. While the list of lifestyle and environmental factors that may aggravate rosacea is long -- ranging from sun and wind to spicy foods, heavy exercise and hot baths -- not everyone is affected by them all. Here's how to pinpoint and avoid those potential rosacea triggers that may affect your individual case.

For many, summer is the most awaited time of the year with its promise of sunny weather and outdoor activities. Yet for 14 million Americans with rosacea, it may be a season of despair unless special precautions are taken to prevent rosacea flare-ups.

Q. If I take long-term medication consistently, will it lose its effectiveness?

A. Topical therapy is commonly prescribed to control rosacea on a long-term basis, and no evidence has suggested that it loses effectiveness. A long-term controlled clinical study found that 77 percent of rosacea patients consistently using topical metronidazole remained in remission, while 42 percent of patients using no therapy had relapsed within six months.

Q. I have had rosacea for three years now. Are there any statistics that indicate how long the condition will last?

Q. Can being anxious or nervous contribute to a rosacea flare-up? I do a lot of public speaking and find my face sometimes gets red and swollen before an engagement.

A. Since anxiety and nervousness are forms of emotional stress, it's quite likely that the anticipation of your speaking engagement could result in a rosacea flare-up. In a National Rosacea Society survey of 602 patients, 88 percent said their rosacea often or sometimes flares up when they are under emotional stress.

Shoppers beware. Everyday items you put in your grocery cart could end up registering a rosacea flare-up. That's why reading food and skin-care product labeling before getting to the check-out line, and planning a grocery list in advance, may help sufferers learn to better manage their condition.