Why is My Face Red?

It’s normal to feel flushed from time to time— a high-pressure presentation, the butterflies before a first date, the anxiety that creeps up before a job interview— these are all great reasons to blush bright red. But if a feverish-looking face has become the norm for you, it may be time to take a second look at your skincare. There are a number of common skin conditions that can result in redness, with a few external factors that can potentially come into play as well.

What causes facial redness?

Is your red face the result of poor product selection, your environment, or an underlying skincare issue? Narrowing down the reason for your redness isn’t always easy, but there are a few common causes you can rule out first.

Common causes of red skin

1.   Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can appear in a variety of ways. Some of the most common indications of rosacea are sensitive skin, unexplained redness, blemish-like bumps, and visible blood vessels. In severe cases, rosacea may even result in eye swelling, dryness, or sensitivity. If you suspect that rosacea is the cause of your facial redness, we recommend making an appointment with a dermatologist or skincare professional of your choosing.

2.   Eczema

Diagnosing eczema can be tricky because it looks nearly identical to allergic contact dermatitis. Redness, itchiness, and a burning sensation are symptoms of both. Eczema may also result in dry, rough red patches of skin that become inflamed and irritated. While dilated blood vessels will give your face a flushed feel and look, eczema more closely resembles a rash. And unlike ordinary blushing, eczema doesn’t just quickly come and go. In most cases, easing irritation from eczema will require a visit to your healthcare professional.

3.   Seborrheic dermatitis

Unlike contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis tends to concentrate around the t-zone of your face. It can rear its head in the form of redness, inflammation, and even scaly-looking skin. Some skincare experts have compared it to dandruff you might experience on your scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis is actually a form of chronic eczema that may periodically appear and clear, sometimes lasting for years. Unfortunately, seborrheic dermatitis is another condition that needs to be addressed with your doctor.

4.   Acne

One of the most common causes of facial redness is acne. Contrary to popular belief, acne can appear at any age and result in redness, swelling, and tenderness to the touch. Acne often occurs for those with oily skin. Sweat and bacteria get trapped beneath the surface of the skin, causing blemishes to crop up when you least expect them. Preventing pimples is a game of ingredients. Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and retinol are your secret weapons in battling breakouts at the source.

5.   Broken blood vessels

Better known as spider veins, broken blood vessels are easiest to identify on your face or legs. Though the cause of spider veins may vary, genetics, pregnancy, and environmental factors have proven to play a significant role. Unfortunately, broken blood vessels don’t just result in redness of the immediate area, but rather the redness spreads to surrounding areas creating a full-faced flush.

6.   Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is just a fancy medical term for an allergic reaction. These reactions most often occur when your skin comes in contact with some sort of irritant. Latex, fragrances, and poisonous plant life are just a few common causes of contact dermatitis. Thankfully, contact dermatitis is temporary and fairly simple to soothe with items you already have on hand.

7.   Dryness from the elements

There’s no denying that weather plays a huge role in the overall health of your skin. Even the slightest change in climate can cause dryness, redness, and discomfort. Whether it’s the transition from fall to winter, or a humid summer giving way to arid autumn, the seasons affect your skin more than you may realize.

Factors that exacerbate facial redness

For individuals suffering from one or more of the skin conditions outlined above, certain habits may aggravate inflammation. It’s best to avoid these behaviors, or at least limit them.

●     Eating spicy foods

●     Consuming too much alcohol

●     Carrying a lot of stress

●     Using poor quality products

●     Overexposing your skin to the sun

Best skincare to reduce redness

Your main squeezes at Moody Sisters, Jess and Whit, have your back when it comes to calming facial redness. Among their selection of all-natural, handcrafted skincare are a series of soothing products to relieve redness and restore balance to your blushing complexion.

Best Facial Cleanser

You’ll want a balancing skin cleanser for redness to help even skin type and nourish skin.

Balancing Facial Toner

Bringing balance and harmony to your skin is as simple as 1,2,3 with a balancing facial toner. Refresh your face, tighten pores, and reduce redness with a light spritz of this facial mist.

Balancing Lightweight Moisturizer

After toning your skin with a bit of facial mist, follow up with a lightweight face lotion, such as our Balancing Moisturizer. Formulated with aloe vera, green tea extract, and fragrant citrus essential oils, this is the perfect lightweight moisturizer to nourish and hydrate your face while simultaneously reducing redness and irritation.

Calming Vitamin B3 Face Serum

In need of a skin-soothing serum? Well, then this product is sure to come in clutch. Niacinamide, vitamin B3, aloe, and avocado oil blend together to create a hydrating serum that’s sure to beat the blush! After toning but before moisturizing, apply a dime-size amount of this serum to your face, and massage into the skin using small circular motions. If you have a facial roller or a Guasha, even better, as these tools help to spread the product for even coverage.

Redness Color Corrector

Even if you are using all the redness reducing skincare products, you still may have red undertones in your skin. Try using a green color corrector to combat and reduce the appearance of redness.