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.

The good news is that for those respondents who practice stress reduction and avoidance techniques, 92 percent reported that they often or sometimes reduced those flare-ups. Try some relaxation techniques before your speech.

Q. How long after a rosacea trigger will a rosacea flare-up occur? For instance, if I eat a food that's a tripwire, will the flare-up happen within minutes, hours, days or weeks?

A. Although there are no data available on how quickly a rosacea trigger may lead to a flare-up, the time is likely to vary depending on the individual and the nature of the tripwire. Try monitoring your individual case to see how quickly your rosacea has responded. And remember, while a wide range of factors has been identified as potential triggers, not every tripwire affects every individual.