If redness is associated with swelling of the face, especially lips or tongue, or trouble breathing, seek immediate medical attention. In the United States, call 911. Start with the products you have added most recently, since these are the most likely to have triggered a reaction. You can schedule an appointment with an allergist or dermatologist. Either can do a patch test, during which small amounts of chemicals will be applied to the skin and the treated skin will be monitored for a reaction. You may just have sensitive skin. If so, some brands have sensitive-skin product lines; classic examples include the Aveeno Ultra-Calming and Eucerin Redness Relief lines. After you figure out which chemical is at the root of your redness, cut out any product from your routine that contains that chemical as an active or inactive ingredient. [1] X Research source
Pat dry with a soft towel when done. Do not scrub your face, which can cause your skin to become more irritated. [2] X Research source Try cleansers with sulfates such as Rosanil. These ingredients will help with inflammation. [3] X Research source If your redness involves pimples and you do not have sensitive skin, try products that have benzoyl peroxide such as Clearasil.
You can also store your lotion in the refrigerator and apply it to your face when cold. Cold products cause the blood vessels in your face to constrict and redness to fade. Avoid buying products with alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, fragrance, eucalyptus, or clove oil. These are considered skin irritants and will only make your skin more irritated. [4] X Research source [5] X Research source
Do not use these creams for long because overexposure to them can actually cause more irritation. You can also look for more natural calming creams that have ingredients such as licorice, feverfew, tea, turmeric, magnesium, cucumber, or ginger. [6] X Research source
To extract the gel from the aloe vera plant, remove a large leaf of aloe from the bottom of the plant. Cut down the center of the plant, score the insides, and pull the gel out. Then apply that gel to your face twice a day. [7] X Research source You can find aloe vera gel at most supermarkets or drug stores.
You can also use olive oil, almond oil, or rosehip seed oil. They have similar nutrients to coconut oil and will help hydrate your skin. [8] X Research source Coconut oil helps alleviate redness when the redness is caused by dryness.
You can make it with milk for an added boost. Make sure the milk has some fat in it, such as 2% or whole milk. The fatty proteins in the milk help rejuvenate your skin. [10] X Research source
If the redness persists over time or is too strong to be covered up by concealer, you may have a condition called rosacea. Contact your dermatologist if you think you may have it. [11] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Avoid applying a heavy layer. The concealer may or may not cover up all of the redness on your face. Even if a standard, moderate amount does not hide every ounce of unwanted red, you should avoid using a thick coating of it. The green tint might start showing through if there is too much concealer to blend into your skin. If you’re trying to cover widespread redness from a sunburn, a green-tinted primer might be better than concealer.
Sunscreen must be at least SPF 30 to be effective. [12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source “Non comedogenic” sunscreen avoids clogging up your pores. You can also buy face makeup or moisturizer that has sunscreen in it.
When your face is exposed to the cold, the blood vessels constrict, causing your skin to turn white. Once you step into a warmer area, however, all the blood rushes back to your face at once, causing your skin to become bright red. Wear a scarf, hat, or ski-mask made of non-irritating fibers.
If your urine is a pale yellow that is almost clear, you are hydrated enough. If your urine is a concentrated yellow or orange-yellow, you should drink more water. By consuming more of these foods, you can protect your skin from drying out when exposed to cold winter air or other harsh, dry conditions. Avoid spicy foods, hot drinks, caffeine, and alcohol. These encourage skin redness and will only exacerbate your skin problem. [14] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Within that amount of time, the vitamin C in the cucumber should have reduced any pesky redness. [15] X Research source Avoid rubbing cucumber over your skin, however, since the friction can cause further irritation.
You can also use chamomile and peppermint tea. Avoid using peppermint tea if your skin is sensitive. Make sure you use a cloth you don’t mind getting stained. The green tea will have a color and will likely stain whatever cloth you use. Do not rub the cloth over your face vigorously, since that will irritate your skin further.
If you are unsure, apply to a small area of your cheek where your redness is not the worst. If your skin is redder or more irritated in a few hours, do not apply jelly to the rest of your face.
You can also use an icepack wrapped heavily in towels, if you want to avoid a wet compress. You can also place a wet washcloth in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool it before pressing it to your face. Do not use rough or cold washcloths.
Common triggers include sun exposure, heat, alcohol, spicy food, hard cheeses, intense emotions, and changes in the weather such as increased humidity and strong winds. Emotional upsets for rosacea include stress, fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. [19] X Research source
Your doctor may prescribe you doxycycline, which is an oral antibiotic known to reduce inflammation. A low dose version of doxycycline, known as Oracea, is given initially in high dosages to jump start the drug in your system but then levels out to maintenance dosage levels. Doxycycline treats not only redness but also the red bumps that are associated with rosacea. There are many other prescription medications as well. Ask your doctor which is best for your specific case. These are prescribed with moderate cases of rosacea instead of mild ones. [20] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Laser treatment can cause some discomfort, but topical anesthetics and ice packs can be used to decrease discomfort. This treatment is not a one time only treatment but is given in 3-6 week intervals. It takes a few sessions to get the best effect and is likely not covered by most insurance companies. It is used mostly when a patient has continual redness that has not responded to other, easier treatments. [22] X Research source
If you have a tablet form of aspirin, crush the pill and add water to it until it makes a paste. After 30 minutes pass, the blood vessels should have constricted. The acne and surrounding skin should be notably less red.
A doctor might prescribe oral antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing your breakouts. Hormone-regulating medication, such as birth control pills and spironolactone, which was originally a hypertension drug, might be prescribed as well. [24] X Research source Usually, topical creams and ointments include ingredients like topical antibiotics, retinoids, sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid. It is not unusual for prescriptions to include a combination of these treatments.
