Oral thermal-induced flushing in erythematotelangiectatic rosacea

Abstract

The effects of caffeine and coffee, agents widely alleged to provoke flushing in patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, were investigated. Neither caffeine nor coffee at 22°C led to flushing reactions. Both coffee at 60°C and water at 60°C led to flushing reactions with similar temporal characteristics and of similar intensities. It is concluded that the active agent causing flushing in coffee at 60°C is heat, not caffeine.