Drugs & Cosmetics That Cause Flushing & Blushing
Almost 70 percent of rosacea episodes are triggered by flushing and blushing caused by drugs and cosmetic ingredients, according to the National Rosacea Society. Any ingredient or product that causes stinging, itching, burning, warming, reddening or vasodilation upon application may trigger a rosacea episode within minutes-to-hours or even several days. Topping the list:
Oral Drugs & Supplements
- Acetaminophen & Codeine
- Acetaminophen & Oxycodone
- ACE inhibitors
- Adenosine
- Agalsidase
- Alcohol
- Amlodipine
- Some antibiotics (ex: vancomycin, metronidazole*, cirpfloxacin)
- Anidulafungin
- Arginine
- Aspirin & Oxycodone
- Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
- Calcium channel blockers
- Cannabis (not CBDs)
- Some chemotherapy drugs
- Fish oil*
- Morphine & other opioids
- Niacin (not niacinamide, which has been found to help control rosacea in some cases)
- Nicotinamide
- Nitroglycerin
- Viagra & other PDE5 inhibitors
Topical Drugs
- Benzocaine
- Benzoyl peroxide*
- Benzyl nicotinate
- Camphor
- Capsaicin
- Corticosteroids
- Hydrocortisone
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Hydroquinone
- Methyl nicotinate
- Methyl salicylate
- Chemical/organic sunscreens
- Octinoxate
- Avobenzone
- Oxybenzone
- Octocrylene
- Homosolate
- Phenol
- Resorcinol
- Retinoids*
- Salicylic acid
- Triclosan
Cosmetic Ingredients (especially high concentrations)
- AHAs*
- Lactic
- Glycolic
- Arachidonic acid (aka: polyunsaturated Omega-6)
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Bentonite
- Capsicum
- DMAE
- Essential oils
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
- Diazolidinyl Urea
- Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM hydantoin
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
- Fragrance (synthetic & natural)
- Fruit enzymes
- Papain
- Bromelain
- Pumpkin
- Granular exfoliants
- Mica
- Montmorillonite
- Peanut oil
- Propylene glycol
- Retinol*
- Salicylic acid
- Sesame oil
- Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate
- Sulfur
- Talc
- TEA-lauryl sulfate
- Tocopheryl nicotinate
* Sometimes used to treat rosacea, this ingredient can cause flushing or blushing in some people.
Please note: Reactions may vary between individuals. Some people will react to only one-or-two items on this list, others may react to the majority of them.
Rebecca Gadberry, LE, FSCC
Our resident cosmetic scientist and marketing and regulatory expert
Co-host | Rebecca Gadberry. Receiving seven awards as a legend in the beauty industry, Rebecca Gadberry, LE, FSCC, continues to shine as one of skincare’s most inspiring innovators and ingredient experts. For more than five decades, she’s educated thousands of skincare professionals and helped shape the direction of modern beauty science.
Always ahead of the curve, Rebecca has been at the forefront of many of today’s most celebrated skincare movements—ranging from aloe vera, liposomes, AHAs, and hyaluronic acid to niacinamide, barrier repair, pollution and blue light protection, microbiome wellness, stem cell breakthroughs, adaptogens, multi-antioxidants, peptides, exosomes, fermentation, green chemistry, and longevity-focused skin care. One of the industry’s first myth-busters and science communicators, she’s earned multiple honors for her contributions as an educator, journalist, researcher, and product developer.
Rebecca has formulated more than 1,500 beauty products for major spa, clinical, broadcast, retail, and wellness brands worldwide, and published over 600 articles across trade, consumer, and scientific journals. A familiar voice on radio and TV, she’s a sought-after speaker who brings energy and expertise to conferences and seminars across every corner of the beauty business.
As the first Marketing Fellow of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and the 13th licensed esthetician in California, Rebecca’s influence spans generations of professionals. Since 1986, she has served as founder, senior instructor, and program director of UCLA Extens… Read More
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