While beer, wine or cocktails may play a role in many social events, rosacea patients who are prone to alcohol-related flare-ups often feel vulnerable when it comes time to raise a toast.  Here are some tips to help you feel more at ease when the drinks are flowing freely.

•  Avoid red wine.  Red wine and rosacea flare-ups go hand-in-hand for many sufferers and the best way to lessen the effects is to avoid it.

Or try white wine, which some rosacea patients say they can drink without triggering an outbreak.  A spritzer concoction of white wine with soda or sparkling water served over ice can dilute your drink while also keeping things cool. 

•  Trade champagne for ginger ale.  Weddings and birthday celebrations are all reasons to raise a toast – but you don’t have to be the only one not raising your glass.  Ginger ale can easily pass for the hard stuff, and no one will know the difference. 

•  Go with a 1:1 ratio.  Alcohol can lead to dehydration, which may aggravate your skin.  Have a glass of ice water in between each alcoholic drink – the water will keep you hydrated and the ice will keep you cool.