Rosacea, Light, and the Seasons: Understanding the Connection and Finding Your Path to Healing
Rosacea is a skin condition that can feel unpredictable—one day your skin looks calm, and the next, it’s flaring up with redness, bumps, and irritation. If you’ve noticed that your rosacea worsens during certain times of the year, after long hours indoors, or even when you're stressed, you’re not imagining things. Your skin’s response is deeply tied to light exposure, seasonal changes, and the overall environment you live in.
What if instead of focusing solely on creams and prescriptions, you started looking at light as a missing piece of the puzzle? Let’s explore the connection between rosacea, seasonal shifts, and modern lighting—and how you can use this knowledge to work toward lasting skin health.
The Role of Light in Rosacea and Skin Health
Light is one of the most powerful regulators of our biology. Our skin and brain share a direct connection through the nervous system, meaning that the light our skin absorbs influences everything from immune function to inflammation levels.
Rosacea often flares up due to a mismatch between the light your body expects and the light it actually gets. For example:
- Low UV exposure in winter: If you live in a northern climate, your skin may struggle with vitamin D production during the colder months. A lack of natural UV light alters the way your immune system functions, which can contribute to rosacea flares
- Excessive blue light from screens and artificial lighting: Blue light from LED screens and indoor lighting disrupts melanopsin, a light-sensitive protein in your skin and eyes. This can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, worsening rosacea symptoms
- Seasonal shifts affecting vitamin A metabolism: Vitamin A (retinol) plays a crucial role in skin health, but it is regulated by light exposure. When your body isn’t in sync with the natural light cycle, vitamin A metabolism becomes dysfunctional, leading to immune system dysregulation and increased skin sensitivity
- High-latitude living and reduced CAMP production: Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) is a key component of your skin’s immune defense. Sunlight helps regulate its production, but in places with long winters and limited sunlight, CAMP levels can drop, making the skin more vulnerable to rosacea flare-ups
If you’ve ever noticed your skin improving after a beach vacation or during a period of increased outdoor activity, this isn’t a coincidence—your skin thrives on balanced, natural light exposure.
How Changing Seasons Affect Rosacea
Your skin is designed to adapt to seasonal changes, but modern living often prevents it from doing so. Here’s how seasonal shifts can trigger rosacea and what you can do to support your skin year-round:
Winter and Rosacea
- Cold temperatures combined with indoor heating strip moisture from your skin, making it more reactive.
- Lack of sunlight leads to lower vitamin D and increased inflammation.
- Increased screen time and indoor lighting exposure disrupt skin barrier function.
What You Can Do:
- Use red light therapy or get morning sunlight exposure to balance the effects of indoor blue light.
- Keep skin hydrated with nourishing fats like tallow, which provides essential fat-soluble vitamins without synthetic additives.
- Consider strategic cold exposure (cold showers, outdoor time) to help your mitochondria function optimally
Spring and Rosacea
- Increased pollen levels and histamine reactions can trigger inflammation.
- Rapid temperature fluctuations may lead to increased vascular reactivity (flushing).
What You Can Do:
- Support your immune system with a whole-food diet rich in vitamin A and D (found in animal fats like tallow).
- Increase outdoor time to allow your skin to gradually acclimate to changing UV levels.
Summer and Rosacea
- Strong UV exposure can be both healing and triggering depending on your skin’s ability to adapt.
- Sunscreens with synthetic chemicals can disrupt skin microbiome and cause irritation.
What You Can Do:
- Build a solar callus—gradually increase sun exposure in the early morning and late afternoon before exposing your skin to midday sun.
- Opt for physical sun protection like hats and clothing rather than excessive sunscreen use.
- Use tallow-based skincare to replenish the skin barrier after sun exposure.
Fall and Rosacea
- Decreasing daylight hours can lead to mood changes and reduced immune resilience.
- Increased use of artificial lighting disrupts circadian rhythms, affecting skin repair.
What You Can Do:
- Prioritize natural light exposure in the mornings and evenings to regulate your circadian rhythm.
- Limit screen time before bed to reduce blue light exposure.
- Grounding (walking barefoot outdoors) can help reset your body’s natural electrical charge and reduce inflammation.
Finding Your Unique Healing Path
Every person with rosacea has different triggers and healing pathways. The key is learning to observe your own body and recognize patterns:
- Do your flares worsen in winter and improve in summer? This may indicate a vitamin D and light deficiency.
- Do screens or fluorescent lights make your skin worse? Reducing artificial light exposure may help regulate melanopsin function.
- Does stress seem to be a major factor? Stress alters cortisol and immune function, making skin more reactive. Practices like deep breathing, time in nature, and quality sleep can be powerful healing tools.
Rather than seeing rosacea as something to “fix” with topical treatments alone, consider it a signal that your body is out of sync with its ideal environment.
Tallow: A Simple, Nourishing Solution for Rosacea-Prone Skin
While working on addressing the root causes of rosacea, having a soothing, non-irritating skincare routine can make a big difference. Tallow is one of the most bioavailable fats for human skin—meaning it closely mimics the natural lipids in your skin barrier. Here’s why tallow is an excellent choice for rosacea:
✅ Rich in Fat-Soluble Vitamins – Tallow contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential for skin healing.
✅ Deeply Moisturizing Without Clogging Pores – Unlike synthetic moisturizers, tallow absorbs into the skin, preventing trans-epidermal water loss.
✅ Supports Skin Barrier Function – Strengthening the skin barrier reduces sensitivity to environmental triggers.
Using a minimal skincare routine with pure tallow-based products allows your skin to function as it should—without excess interference from unnecessary ingredients.
Final Thoughts: Your Skin, Your Light, Your Healing
Rosacea isn’t just about genetics or “sensitive skin”—it’s a response to your environment. If you’ve struggled to find lasting relief, it may be time to step back and consider how your light exposure, seasonal shifts, and daily habits are influencing your skin.
You have the power to experiment, observe, and adapt. Whether it’s spending more time outside, reducing screen exposure, or switching to a nourishing, tallow-based skincare routine, small changes can have a profound impact.
Your skin is always speaking to you—are you ready to listen?
References:
KRUSE CPC#32 - Kruse Longevity Rx for Skin
KRUSE QB#10 - Hormones 102
KRUSE CPC#52 - Sunlight, Eczema, Acne and Coulomb Force
KRUSE CPC#33 - Grounding Part 2