What causes redness on the face. How to treat facial redness effectively. When should you consult a dermatologist for facial redness. What are the best home remedies for reducing facial redness.

Common Causes of Facial Redness

Facial redness is a common skin concern that can be caused by various factors. Understanding these causes is crucial for effective treatment and prevention. Here are some of the most common reasons behind facial redness:

1. Rosacea: A Chronic Skin Condition

Rosacea is a prevalent skin condition that primarily affects the face. It’s more commonly observed in individuals with fair skin, particularly women. The exact cause of rosacea remains unknown, but certain triggers can exacerbate the condition. These triggers can be managed with proper treatment and lifestyle modifications.

2. Dietary Factors: Spicy Foods and Alcohol

Did you know that your diet can contribute to facial redness? Consuming spicy foods, alcohol, cheese, hot drinks, and caffeine can trigger facial flushing. This occurs because these substances can dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the face and causing a reddened appearance. Interestingly, alcohol flushing is more common among Asians due to a genetic enzyme deficiency.

3. Contact Dermatitis: Allergic Reactions

Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with foreign substances. Common culprits include fragrances, poison ivy, soaps, and hair dyes. When the skin reacts to these allergens, it can result in redness, itching, and inflammation.

4. Eczema: Atopic Dermatitis

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition characterized by dry, itchy, and scaly patches. While it commonly affects the feet, it can also appear on the face. Eczema flare-ups can cause significant redness and discomfort.

5. Medication Reactions

Certain medications can cause adverse reactions, leading to facial redness. This is especially true when the skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight due to medication use. For example, face creams containing hydrocortisone can increase skin sensitivity and lead to redness when exposed to sunlight.

Skincare and Environmental Factors Contributing to Facial Redness

Beyond medical conditions and dietary factors, various skincare practices and environmental elements can contribute to facial redness. Let’s explore these factors:

1. Retinol Overuse

Retinoid creams are popular for their anti-aging properties, but overuse can lead to skin sensitivity and redness. These products make the skin more susceptible to sun damage, which can result in facial flushing.

2. Over-Exfoliation

Exfoliation is essential for healthy skin, but too much of a good thing can be harmful. Over-exfoliating, especially if you have dry skin, can lead to irritation and redness that persists for more than 24 hours after the treatment.

3. Sun Exposure and Weather Changes

Prolonged sun exposure is one of the most common causes of facial redness. The ultraviolet rays damage the skin, prompting increased blood flow to the affected areas as the body attempts to repair the damage. Similarly, sudden weather changes, particularly the onset of hot summer or humid conditions, can lead to prickly heat and facial redness.

4. Poor Quality Cosmetics

Using low-quality or expired cosmetics can irritate the skin and cause redness. It’s crucial to choose skincare and makeup products from reputable brands and to ensure they’re suitable for your skin type.

Medical Conditions Associated with Facial Redness

While many cases of facial redness are benign, some can be symptoms of underlying medical conditions. It’s important to be aware of these potential causes:

1. Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a blister-like rash, which can appear on the face. It typically begins with a tingling sensation before the rash develops. If shingles affects the face, immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent complications.

2. Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. When lupus affects the skin, it can cause a distinctive butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose, along with facial redness and swelling.

3. Genetic Flushing

Some individuals, particularly those of Asian descent, may experience genetic flushing after consuming alcohol. This condition is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, which helps break down alcohol. The result is a buildup of acetaldehyde, leading to facial flushing and redness that can extend to other parts of the body.

8 Effective Ways to Reduce Facial Redness

If you’re dealing with facial redness, there are several strategies you can employ to alleviate the symptoms and improve your skin’s appearance. Here are eight effective methods:

1. Identify and avoid triggers: Keep a journal to track potential triggers such as certain foods, environmental factors, or skincare products.
2. Use gentle, fragrance-free skincare products: Opt for hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic products designed for sensitive skin.
3. Apply cold compresses: Use a clean, soft cloth soaked in cool water to soothe inflamed skin.
4. Incorporate anti-inflammatory ingredients: Look for products containing aloe vera, chamomile, or green tea extract.
5. Protect your skin from the sun: Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, even on cloudy days.
6. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
7. Use a humidifier: This can help prevent skin dryness, especially during winter months.
8. Consider LED light therapy: Red light therapy can help reduce inflammation and promote healing.

When to Consult a Dermatologist for Facial Redness

While many cases of facial redness can be managed at home, there are instances where professional medical advice is necessary. Consider consulting a dermatologist if:

• Your facial redness persists for more than two weeks despite home remedies
• The redness is accompanied by severe pain, itching, or burning sensations
• You notice any changes in the texture or appearance of your skin
• The redness spreads to other parts of your body
• You experience frequent or severe flushing episodes
• Your facial redness is affecting your quality of life or self-esteem

A dermatologist can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend targeted treatments, which may include prescription medications, professional skincare treatments, or lifestyle modifications.

Natural Remedies for Reducing Facial Redness

For those preferring natural solutions, several home remedies can help alleviate facial redness:

1. Honey and Oatmeal Mask

Combine equal parts honey and finely ground oatmeal to create a soothing mask. Apply to clean skin for 15-20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Honey has antibacterial properties, while oatmeal can calm irritated skin.

2. Cucumber Slices

Place chilled cucumber slices on affected areas for 10-15 minutes. Cucumbers contain antioxidants and have a cooling effect that can help reduce redness and inflammation.

3. Green Tea Compress

Brew a strong cup of green tea, allow it to cool, then use it as a compress on your face. Green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe redness and irritation.

4. Aloe Vera Gel

Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to red areas. Aloe vera has natural cooling and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and promote healing.

Prevention Strategies for Facial Redness

Preventing facial redness is often easier than treating it. Here are some strategies to help keep your skin calm and reduce the likelihood of redness:

1. Develop a Consistent Skincare Routine

Establish a gentle, consistent skincare routine using products suitable for your skin type. Avoid frequent changes in your routine, as this can irritate sensitive skin.

2. Practice Sun Protection

Sun damage is a leading cause of facial redness. Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and consider wearing protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats when spending time outdoors.

3. Manage Stress

Stress can exacerbate skin conditions that cause redness. Incorporate stress-management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises into your daily routine.

4. Maintain a Balanced Diet

A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can help reduce skin redness. Include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds. Also, consider reducing your intake of spicy foods and alcohol if you notice they trigger redness.

5. Stay Cool

Avoid overheating by staying in air-conditioned environments during hot weather, using cool compresses, and avoiding hot showers or baths.

The Role of Skincare Products in Managing Facial Redness

Choosing the right skincare products is crucial in managing and preventing facial redness. Here are some key considerations:

1. Gentle Cleansers

Opt for mild, fragrance-free cleansers that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. Look for products labeled as suitable for sensitive skin.

2. Moisturizers with Ceramides

Ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier, which can reduce sensitivity and redness. Choose a moisturizer that contains ceramides and is free from potential irritants.

3. Calming Serums

Serums containing ingredients like niacinamide, centella asiatica, or licorice root extract can help soothe redness and improve skin tone.

4. Mineral Sunscreens

Physical (mineral) sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are less likely to irritate sensitive skin compared to chemical sunscreens.

5. Color-Correcting Products

Green-tinted primers or concealers can help neutralize redness for a more even skin tone. However, be sure to choose products that are gentle and non-comedogenic.

By understanding the causes of facial redness and implementing these prevention and treatment strategies, you can significantly improve the health and appearance of your skin. Remember, persistent or severe redness should always be evaluated by a dermatologist to rule out any underlying conditions and ensure you’re receiving the most appropriate treatment.

15 Causes & 8 Ways To Reduce It – SkinKraft

Reviewed by Expert Prutha B.Nawale (M.tech, Cosmetic Technology)

Updated on August 29, 2022
| Written By Minal Khona

×

This blog post is based on scientific evidence, written and fact checked by our doctors.

Our team of dermatologists and formulators strive to be objective, unbiased and honest.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses are clickable links to research
papers from reputed academic organizations.

How often have you noticed your face flushing and turning red? Skin redness can have many causes – from sunburn and allergies to rosacea and spicy food. While prevention is the best cure for some conditions, some might need medical attention. Find out all its causes, solutions and more.

Highlights:

• What Causes Redness In The Face?
• How To Reduce Redness On Face
• When To See A Dermatologist?

What Causes Redness In The Face?

1. Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that usually affects the face, and is more commonly found in light skinned women. Its cause is unknown, but there are triggers which can be controlled with treatment. [1]

2. Spicy Foods and Alcohol

Intake of spicy food, alcohol, cheese, hot drinks, caffeine and aerobic running too can trigger facial redness.

Alcohol flushing is prevalent among Asians due to the lack of an enzyme. Spicy foods dilate the blood vessels due to their heat generating capability, which increases the flow of blood to the face, making it look red.

3. Contact Dermatitis

Redness due to an allergic reaction caused by the skin’s contact with foreign substances is termed as contact dermatitis [2]. For example, fragrances, poison ivy or soaps and hair dyes can lead to allergic reactions.

4. Eczema

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. This is a rash that can appear all of a sudden and makes the skin extremely dry, itchy and scaly. It usually appears on the feet, but is known to affect facial skin as well. [3]

5. Reaction to Medication

The intake of some medications can cause an adverse, allergic reaction to the skin making it go red, especially if you are outdoors. A classic example would be the use of a face cream containing hydrocortisone [4].

6. Retinol Overuse

The use of retinoid [5] creams makes the skin sensitive to the sun, which in turn causes redness on the face.

7. Over-Exfoliated Skin

If you develop itchy and red skin immediately after exfoliating, which lasts for over 24 hours, it is a sign that you are doing it too frequently. Over exfoliation leads to redness especially when you have dry skin.

8. Shingles

This is a condition where a blister like rash appears on the face and usually elsewhere on the body. It is an infection that starts with a tingling sensation. If the rash appears on the face, immediate treatment is advised. [6]

9. Lupus

The autoimmune disease where the human body’s immune system starts to attack its own body parts is known as lupus. When it attacks the skin, a butterfly shaped rash usually appears on the face and cheeks. It can also cause swelling. [7]

10. Genetic Flushing

This condition occurs after the consumption of alcohol, where flushes or red blotches appear on the face, neck and the also entire body at times. It is quite prevalent among Asians, due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, caused by the absence of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (helps break down alcohol).

11. Dry Skin and Acne

Acne usually appears on oily skin. It is a result of clogged pores due to excessive oil secretion by the sebaceous glands. A breakout can cause the skin to look red.

Acne can also occur on dry and sensitive skin, when it comes in contact with certain particles. Being out in the sun without applying sunscreen can also cause redness.

12. Hot Weather (Sun Exposure)

Exposure to the sun is one of the most common causes of skin redness. It eventually becomes sun burnt skin. This is due to the damage from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, where the body sends more blood to the exposed skin to repair the damage.

13. Weather Change

Sometimes, the advent of hot summer or humid conditions usually gives rise to prickly heat, a form of rash that causes redness. Usually, it is found on the torso and back. But at times, it can affect the face too.

14. Inflammatory Skin

Inflammation on your skin can be due to contact with poison ivy, an allergic reaction to a food item or dermatitis. Symptoms include redness on the face and swelling. Some people are even known to have red and inflamed skin due to stress or bacteria.

15. Poor Quality Cosmetics

When it comes to skin creams and colour cosmetics, it is best to play safe and go with trusted brands. The dubious quality of ingredients used in cosmetics that are not prepared in a hygienic and scientific environment can often cause the skin to break out into a rash.

How To Reduce Redness On Face?

1. Cool Water Bath or Cold Compress

For heat, sunburn or rosacea-related redness, a cool bath helps to bring the rash down. A cool compress can help reduce facial inflammation and give relief to sensitive skin.

2. Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid Peels

Glycolic acid peels [8] remove dead cells from the surface of the skin, brightening the exposed layers. Salicylic acid peels [9] are good for treating redness and blemishes caused by acne. Any chemical peel should be applied by a trained cosmetologist or dermatologist.

3. Sunscreen

For redness due to weather change, using sunscreen with a high SPF helps reduce the rash. Patients on retinoid therapy are advised to avoid excessive sun exposure and take precautionary measures (like use of sunscreens) for sun protection.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera in gel or cream form can help reduce redness and itchiness. The components in aloe vera soothe the skin and promote regeneration of new skin, while helping the skin to heal faster.

5. Cucumber Slices

Cucumbers are known for their cooling qualities. So applying cucumber juice or placing cucumber slices on the face and eyes can help to soothe the skin and reduce redness.

6. Choose Fragrance-Free Products

If your skin is sensitive and reacts to strong fragrances, look for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products for your skin. These are specifically made to suit sensitive skin, which is prone to redness on application. Avoid deodorants, skin creams and cosmetics with strong fragrances.

7. Changing Your Lifestyle

If you have genetic flushing, avoiding consumption of alcohol is the best way to beat it. Similarly, if you have oily skin, it demands a change in your diet and reduced consumption of oily, high-fat foods. Wearing sunscreen every time you step outdoors also helps.

8. Medication Related Redness

If your skin is turning red due to any medication, we suggest you see your doctor for that ailment and ask him/her to prescribe a drug you don’t react to.

When To See A Dermatologist?

It is suggested that you visit a dermatologist if the rash persists for more than two weeks; or if you have any kind of pain or itchiness. Conditions like lupus, shingles, dermatitis, rosacea, allergic reactions to medicines etc. require medical attention.

Redness on the face can be due to several reasons. Depending on the duration and severity, you can opt for simple solutions or consult a dermatologist.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828925/

2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000869.htm

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279399/

4. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682206. html

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641/

6. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html

7. https://medlineplus.gov/lupus.html

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875240/

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554394/

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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 intensify with 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.

How to get rid of redness on the face?

The specialists of our clinic are close to the European approach to medical education, according to which a doctor should learn all his life. Every year in cosmetology there are new directions, methods, preparations. That is why regular attendance at conferences, internships in different countries of the world have become a part of life for our doctors and management staff.