82% of Rosacea Patients Say Skincare Makes It Worse (2025 Survey)
If your sunscreen stings, you're not imagining it — a 2025 survey of over 1,100 rosacea patients explains why, and points to a safer default.
For Rosacea Awareness Month (April 1, 2025), the National Rosacea Society reported that in a survey of 1,104 patients, 82% said skincare products aggravated their condition and 70% named specific irritants — alcohol (63%), fragrance (57%), witch hazel (31%) and menthol (30%).
The National Rosacea Society advises that people with rosacea favor gentle, mineral (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) sunscreens over potentially irritating chemical filters, and avoid common triggers like alcohol, fragrance, witch hazel and menthol.
Questions we get a lot
Why does my sunscreen sting if I have rosacea?
Rosacea-prone skin has a compromised barrier and is highly reactive to common cosmetic ingredients. In the 2025 NRS survey, 82% of patients said skincare aggravated their rosacea, and irritants like alcohol, fragrance, witch hazel and menthol were the most-cited culprits. Stinging is a real reaction, not oversensitivity.
Is mineral or chemical sunscreen better for rosacea?
The National Rosacea Society recommends mineral (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) sunscreens over potentially irritating chemical filters for rosacea-prone skin. Mineral filters sit on the skin and are less likely to provoke a flare. Always patch-test and choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free formulas.
Which ingredients should rosacea patients avoid?
The 2025 NRS survey identified alcohol (named by 63% of respondents), fragrance (57%), witch hazel (31%) and menthol (30%) as top irritants. Scanning labels for these — and choosing simple, gentle formulas — lowers the chance of a flare.
r/Rosacea: 'Every sunscreen I try makes my face burn — is it the chemical filters or something else in the formula?'