14 April 2023 , 10:55
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We all have our own morning routines, whether it's a trip to the gym or simply rolling out of bed to your work-from-home set-up one minute before you're due at work.
But one popular morning routine a lot of us share is grabbing a cup of coffee. Two thirds of us need that caffeine boost to push us through the morning brain fog.
However, you might want to think twice before reaching for this quick energy boost because it could be having an adverse effect on your skin. Coffee can cause rosacea, warns skincare expert Bruce Green.
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Your morning cuppa might need to be swapped out (stock image) (Getty Images)Rosacea is a skin condition that can impact anyone, resulting in a redness across the face and chest which can be painful, hot and even sting when using water or skincare products.
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There is no known cause for the condition, which mainly impacts people with lighter skin, starting from their early 30s, but it appears to be as a result of small blood vessels in the face dilating.
Genetic factors, sun exposure, bacteria, hair mites and even gastrointestinal disease have all been pointed to as potential sources of the skin condition. Some medications, food and drink can also cause flare ups of rosacea.
Bruce Green, a chartered chemist and founder of SOS Serum Skincare, said: "Rosacea tends to affect the 'blush' areas of the face and is more common in people who flush easily. Additionally, a variety of triggers are known to cause rosacea to flare.
"Emotional factors (stress, fear, anxiety, embarrassment, etc) may trigger blushing and aggravate rosacea. A flare-up can be caused by changes in the weather like strong winds or a change in the humidity."
He lists exercise, alcohol consumption, emotional upsets, and spicy foods as well-known triggers that can aggravate rosacea.
"Many patients may also notice flares around the holidays, particularly Christmas and New Year's holidays," added Bruce.
The heat from coffee might hurt your rosacea (stock image) (Getty Images)Along with these is coffee, with the heat from the popular drink thought to upset more sensitive cases of rosacea. Coffee is a little bit of a grey area as some studies have found that caffeine could actually reduce your flare ups thanks to its vasoconstrictor properties.
Caffeine could reduce blood flow to the face and even curb inflammation but Bruce warns it can "aggravate the condition" in some patients.
Unfortunately, some triggers impact one person more than another so it could be a case of finding what works for you. Ditching a hot coffee for iced might be enough to keep your caffeine fix in your diet.
Bruce added: "Mild rosacea may not necessarily require treatment if the individual is not bothered by the condition. More resistant cases may require a combination approach, using several of the treatments at the same time.
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"It is advisable to seek a physician’s care for the proper evaluation and treatment of rosacea. As a way to help minimise the condition, always use non-perfumed products and a non-alcoholic cleanser and always wear an SPF formulation when out and about."