As beauty editors who do their fair share of skin care stories, we've noticed that rosacea is often the pink elephant in the room when it comes to skin topics. Over 16 million Americans are affected by it (usually after the age of 30), yet it's rarely discussed. We chatted with New Jersey dermatologist Dr. Jeanine Downie, MD, FAAD to get the scoop on this embarrassing skin issue, some unlikely causes, and how you can control your flare ups.

• Women are more prone to rosacea than men. Due to the higher levels of stress women face (insert gender joke about how carefree and lazy men are here), Dr. Downie said females are much more prone to rosacea, as stress can be a leading trigger.

• Baking in the sun doesn't help either. We have to admit that we got a little nervous after hearing Downie tell us her rosacea stemmed from years of baking in the sun as a teenage lifeguard. Even if you have darker skin and tan easily, steer clear of the sun to avoid developing rosacea later on down the road.

• Exercise can cause rosacea. Talk about a double-edged sword. Exercise helps lower your stress levels but can also trigger a flare up. Downie recommends drinking ice water as you sweat to keep flushing down and if you do feel a flare up coming on, press your face in a cold wash cloth after working out.

In addition to these unlikely culprits, Downie says that anything from smoking, your hormones (especially around your period), to even some cosmetics that contain alcohol or heavy fragrances can spark flushing. If your symptoms include blushing, redness, irritation, and bumps talk to your doctor about Oracea, which helps treat rosacea inflammation in adults.

If you're unsure whether your breakouts are acne or rosacea, read this checklist to diagnose your symptoms.

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