13 Ways to Reduce Facial Redness, According to Dermatologists

By

Kristin Howard

Kristin Howard

Kristin Howard is a freelance writer and content creator. She has contributed skincare and wellness articles for Reader’s Digest, Hello Giggles, and The Pretty Pimple. 

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and

Anneke Knot

Anneke Knot

Anneke Knot is a freelance writer and content creator specializing in beauty and fashion. Previously, she was on staff at Real Simple and Health magazines.

Byrdie’s Editorial Guidelines

Updated on 02/14/23 12:01PM

Medically reviewed by

Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD

Medically reviewed by
Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD

Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon and lecturer both in the U.S. and in the global arena.

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Red, flushed skin can be attributed to a number of things, whether it’s warm weather, an intense workout, or simply feeling excited or embarrassed. Sometimes redness can occur because of a skin condition, such as rosacea, or issues like endocrine disorders that we can’t easily see. While some causes of redness are a bit easier to treat than others, and perhaps only require a pat-down with cool water or a calming mask, others require intensive treatments with the help of a skincare pro. Whatever the case, calming red, flushed skin is easier once you identify the cause.

Meet the Expert

• Anna Guanche, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in cosmetic procedures. She is the founder of Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas, California.
• Gary Goldenberg, MD, is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist at Goldenberg Dermatology. He is also an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to calm your skin when redness occurs.

01
of 13

Apply a Cool Compress

If your red or flushed skin isn’t due to an underlying medical condition, you can treat it by applying a cool compress to the affected area. In most cases, the skin becomes flushed as a result of the blood vessels widening, which then allows for more blood to flow through. This is why some people experience redness during exercise, when they drink alcohol, or if they become embarrassed—which we’ll get to in a minute.

To calm flushed skin, place a clean washcloth in a plastic bag filled with ice cubes and leave it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then, remove the cloth and gently apply it to the skin for about 20 minutes.

02
of 13

Color-Correct With Visine

For years, Visine has promised to “get the red out” of our eyes, and as it turns out, that same color-correcting magic can work on skin. Like ice or cold water, Visine constricts blood vessels to reduce redness by restricting blood flow to the area. Many people already know that a few drops of Visine on an inflamed pimple can offer temporary relief from redness, and Guanche recommends implementing this practice to any affected areas of the skin by combining “a little Visine mixed with moisturizer. ”

03
of 13

Wear a Soothing Mask

If you don’t need to constrict your blood vessels but seek to calm red skin that’s caused by dryness or inflammation, natural face masks and sheet masks make for great at-home treatments when they contain the right ingredients. Rosewater is known for reducing redness and calming irritated skin. Plus, it’s naturally packed with vitamins A, C, and E, which will leave your skin looking and smelling fantastic in mere minutes.

We like Dr. Jart’s Soothing Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask ($15) for when you need to keep your skin hydrated. It contains soothing aloe vera to help avoid any additional irritation.

If you’re feeling crafty, try a DIY face mask. Research avocado or oatmeal face mask recipes to calm flushed skin.

04
of 13

Regularly Moisturize

Moisturizing should already be a part of your skincare routine, but if you experience chronic redness, it may be time to boost the frequency. Look for soothing ingredients in your moisturizers like aloe, spring water, or oatmeal—we love the Avene Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream ($36). If you still can’t shake the dryness, try incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum into your routine. The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($10) feels super silky and works on all skin types.

05
of 13

Look Into Lasers

Laser technology has been used by dermatologists for years to treat a number of skincare concerns, from reducing acne scarring, diminishing hyperpigmentation, and even lifting sagging skin without requiring patients to go under the knife. When it comes to relieving redness, there’s a laser therapy treatment for that, too. “V-Beam Laser is a non-ablative laser that produces an intense but gentle burst of light that selectively destroys the blood vessels of vascular lesions without damaging the surrounding skin and tissue,” Guanche explains. “This laser helps with flushing as well.”

The KTP laser is another option, which Goldenberg says literally cauterizes the dilated vessels that cause redness in the first place. “Other lasers, such as laser genesis, help patients with rosacea and acne combination by destroying the bacteria that causes acne and helping the skin to heal itself,” he says.

06
of 13

Consider Topical Creams

If you know that the redness on your skin is caused by rosacea, you can also look to certain prescription medications to treat your symptoms. Guanche recommends talking to your doctor about Rhofade or Mirvaso, both of which are applied as topical creams that relieve redness temporarily.

If your rosacea has you feeling especially dry, a calming lotion may also provide temporary relief. There are plenty of over-the-counter options available.

We like Weleda’s Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream ($20) for its rich formula, which is thick enough for the hands, yet gentle enough for the face. It’s a skincare fave for those looking to hydrate their dry skin.

07
of 13

Avoid Irritating Products

Redness can be exacerbated by certain ingredients in our skincare—namely acids, which are commonly used to exfoliate the skin. “Steer clear of strong retinoids or retinol, as these products can further irritate sensitive skin, as well as harsh physical exfoliants and polishing scrubs,” says Guanche. “Some acne products can be drying and should be used with caution if you have sensitive skin, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and glycolic acids.”

If you can’t part ways with your favorite acid-enhanced product, limit your use to just a few times a week or look to formulas that contain a low percentage of the good stuff. For example, many products containing glycolic acid may fall between 10 to 20 percent glycolic acid, although some, like The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution ($13) and The Magic Pads 2% Glycolic Acid Pads ($20) are formulated with a lesser amount, which may be ideal for skin that becomes red or irritated easily.

Even if you’re not using harsh acids, Goldenberg says it’s a good idea to use a gentle cleanser twice daily. Also, apply a moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher every morning, and use a nourishing moisturizer at night. He suggests using a low-dose retinol as well.

This Byrdie favorite soothing cleanser has five different skin-conditioning ingredients to allow you to wash up multiple times a day without getting irritated skin.

08
of 13

Revise Your Diet

Underlying redness can simply be related to a few outside factors. This is, of course, if you’re not dealing with a certified medical condition. If your redness is less medical and more environmental, sometimes it can be broken down into making simple changes in things like your diet. “We often recommend an anti-inflammatory diet, which includes green leafy vegetables, fish, essential oils, and low-glycemic fruits,” Goldenberg says. “Even more importantly it excludes simple sugars, grains, non-organic meats and dairy, and high-glycemic fruits. Pre- and probiotics are a must. Vitamin D supplements also help, even in those patients with normal vitamin D levels.”

In the same way that certain skincare ingredients may trigger the outer layer of the skin, some foods and drinks can inflame and irritate skin from the inside.  These foods tend to have high acidic content and can regularly produce flushed cheeks and persisting redness. “If you are prone to redness or rosacea, then you can avoid triggers, such as spicy foods, citrus, tomato, chocolate, and cinnamon,” suggests Guanche. Additionally, she lists heat, extremes in temperatures (either hot or cold), wind exposure, alcohol, and some warm beverages as additional triggers that can lead to redness or may induce rosacea symptoms.

09
of 13

Make Lifestyle Changes

While persisting redness can be a frustrating problem, the cause is often more than skin deep. This means that the solution can require certain lifestyle changes in addition to the steps mentioned above. For lifestyle modifications you can make, Goldenberg advises the following:

• Decrease sun/UV exposure
• Stop smoking
• Stop drinking hot beverages
• Drink cold water while exercising

While this won’t necessarily “cure” redness, doing things like avoiding excessive sun exposure or using a cool compress can help reduce symptoms temporarily.

10
of 13

Try a Multifactorial Approach

Sometimes skin redness or flushing requires treatments and ingredients that at-home DIY solutions can’t offer. Calming red skin depends on its cause, especially when dealing with a skin condition. Goldenberg says rosacea is the most common cause of facial redness they see at his practice. “The best approach to treating this is multifactorial—we call it functional,” he says, “It includes a combination of nutrition and lifestyle modification, skincare, medications, and procedures, such as laser.”

Procedures such as microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which are anti-inflammatory, can often help patients that have an acne/rosacea combination. Goldenberg says microneedling works by resurfacing the skin and decreasing inflammation.

We recommend using this tool that pairs microneedling and red LED light technology to help skin texture and overall appearance.

11
of 13

Wear Sunscreen

Though it may seem obvious, sunscreen is often the most neglected part of a skincare routine. Yes, an SPF 30 or above shields your skin from harmful UV rays and prevents burning, but it also helps reduce unwanted flare-ups.

Heat and sun exposure often trigger skin conditions like rosacea and melasma. Plus using a zinc-based formula like the Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Mineral Moisturizer SPF 30 ($33) soothes and hydrates while blocking the sun.

12
of 13

Minimize With Makeup

Redness relief exists, but unfortunately, most solutions are not immediate. If you are struggling with fading redness, try applying a color corrector. Green is the opposite of red, so look for a cream or concealer tinted with a greenish hue to erase rosy tones. Apply the Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 ($52) to fresh, clean skin for more neutral-looking skin first thing in the morning.

13
of 13

Talk to Your Doctor

If other options have been exhausted and you still can’t find relief from redness or flushing, it is always a good idea to consult your physician, especially if redness is combined with additional symptoms.

“If the red, flushed skin is associated with a rapid heart rate, sweating, and/or diarrhea, that is something more concerning that warrants further workup,” Guanche warns. “Carcinoid tumors or pheochromocytomas are tumors that can cause flushing and a racing heart, for example. Most cases of flushing, however, are just a benign genetic tendency.”

An Expert-Approved Skin Routine That Can Help With Rosacea

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

1. Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA. Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8

2. Hannah-Shmouni F, Stratakis CA, Koch CA. Flushing in (neuro)endocrinology. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2016;17(3):373-380. doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9394-8.

3. Maruyama N, Tansho-Nagakawa S, Miyazaki C, Shimomura K, Ono Y, Abe S. Inhibition of neutrophil adhesion and antimicrobial activity by diluted hydrosol prepared from rosa damascena. Biol Pharm Bull. 2017;40(2):161-168. doi:10.1248/bpb.b16-00644

4. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Facial redness.

5. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Rosacea treatment: how to treat the redness.

6. Weiss E, Katta R. Diet and rosacea: the role of dietary change in the management of rosacea. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017;7(4):31-37. doi:10.5826/dpc.0704a08

7. Singh A, Yadav S. Microneedling: advances and widening horizons. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):244-254. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.185468

8. John Hopkins Medicine. “Rashes and skin inflammation.”

10 reasons your face is red

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Causes of facial redness, how to deal with and how to soothe the skin with redness and rosacea on the face

My facial skin turns red – is it couperosis?

Redness on the face is a symptom of many dermatological diseases, including rosacea. The difference is that rosacea is dilated blood vessels visible on the skin. In other words, it is a capillary network. The owners of light thin sensitive skin are most susceptible to the condition. Couperosis on the face is localized on the cheeks, lateral surfaces of the nose, sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation and tingling. This can be an independent manifestation of skin changes, or it can be one of the symptoms of rosacea, a chronic dermatological disease with an undulating course.

What causes skin redness in rosacea?

Manifestations of rosacea are aggravated by vascular and immune disorders, gastrointestinal dysfunction, exposure to climatic factors, emotional stress. The course of rosacea is aggravated by cosmetic preparations and cleansers that have an irritating effect (waterproof cosmetics and tinting preparations, the removal of which requires the use of solvents, as well as cleansers containing soap). Therefore, the following are recommended as the basis of daily skin care for rosacea:

• gentle cleansing of the skin
• support for the natural balance of healthy skin microflora
• moisturizing and protecting the skin from the sun
• control of dilated blood vessels.

How to take care of skin with rosacea and rosacea?

Rosacelin LIBRDERM Collection – 4 steps to healthy and beautiful skin without redness. Gentle skin care products with a plant-derived vascular growth factor blocker normalize microcirculation, reducing skin redness. ” – comments Tamrazova Olga Borisovna, MD, Professor of the Department of Dermatovenereology of the FPC MR RUDN University.

Step 1: Gentle cleansing

Blackcurrant Oil Foam Cleanser contains a bio-complex of malic amino acids that gently removes impurities and make-up from sensitive, redness-prone skin. The natural organic component of MSM based on sulfur has a pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. Pollution and makeup are removed, the skin is cleansed without overdrying.

Step 2. Reduce reactivity and normalize microflora

Innovative texture and effective formula in one bottle – in contact with the skin, the tonic turns into a soothing gel. The prebiotic inulin in the soothing tonic gel maintains a natural balance of healthy skin microflora, caffeine reduces the visibility of capillaries, and the extract of the medicinal plant Lastoven blackish has anti-inflammatory and soothing effects.

Step 3 Moisturize & Protect

Soothing day cream with vegetal growth factor blocker combats persistent dilation and new capillary network formation. Licorice root extract in the composition soothes, softens, moisturizes, relieves skin irritation. SPF 30 in the composition protects against the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Step 4. Deep correction and restoration

Normalizing night cream with an innovative niosomal form of delivery of the active ingredient – troxerutin – reduces the permeability and fragility of capillaries, increases their tone, increases the density of the vascular wall, has anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects.

Thus skin care Rosacelin fights microcirculation disorders, which are accompanied by expansion, fragility of blood vessels and the formation of new capillaries.

Facial Redness Treatment with Laser and Intense Pulsed Light

What are the benefits of Facial Redness Treatment with Laser and IPL?

• The combination of the latest laser technology and intense pulsed light makes these advantages clear:
• Excellent and stable treatment results – in combination with a variety of laser technologies and intense pulsed light, we get excellent results, even in very difficult cases;
• Mild treatment – usually does not require anesthesia;
• Easy treatment – minimal discoloration or swelling after treatment, minimal post-treatment care;
• Convenient – outpatient treatment, and lasts only a few minutes.

What is facial redness?

Redness on the face is caused by the concentration of microscopic blood vessels in the skin. Usually there are many more of them, they are very small, not visible to the naked eye, and sometimes even with the help of special optics. Most often, we see only bright red skin, and we do not see individual blood vessels.
Redness can be bright, both on the whole face and in some of its places: around the nose, on the cheeks.

How do the progressive treatments used in our GK Clinic work?

Modern new technologies of pulsed light and lasers affect every, even the smallest diameter, blood vessel with a particularly precise amount of energy of a certain power, having a minimal impact on the surrounding skin. During this treatment, light or laser energy is delivered directly to the selected capillary or blood vessel using a special device. This energy – heat – is absorbed by the blood vessels, and then they stick together irreversibly. The combination of different laser technologies and intense pulsed light affects blood vessels of different diameters, at different depths of the skin, as a result of which even very complex cases that were previously considered incurable can be treated.

Why does facial redness occur?

We do not know all the causes, but most often it is influenced by heredity, oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, sunbathing and the aging process. It may also be associated with some other skin conditions.

Is this treatment right for you?

Before starting treatment at our GK Clinic, a specialist using special optics will examine and evaluate your facial redness, study your medical history. We will need to determine your skin type, whether you have had any skin diseases before, and how you were treated. We will also discuss your current condition, future treatment and expected outcome.
In each individual case, the specialist will draw up and select the most suitable treatment plan for you and giving the greatest effect.

How are laser and IPL treatments performed?

Treatment may vary depending on the characteristics of facial redness, its location and distribution. The doctor, using a special nozzle of the device, will direct a beam of laser or IPL light to the area of ​​redness. In many cases, pain relief treatment is not necessary. Some patients experience a slight tingling or heat during treatment.

How is the recovery going, is special care needed?

There will be minimal discomfort after the procedure. How you will look after the procedure depends on what kind of treatment your doctor chooses. After treatment with some lasers or pulsed light systems, there may be a slight swelling, redness, which usually disappears after a few hours.
Your doctor will ask you to apply a special ointment to the treated area, avoid sunlight and use sunscreen. In the treatment of blood vessel formations, the final results of the treatment are visible immediately or after 10-14 days.