Skin Redness Relief

SOME CAUSES FOR REDNESS IN FACE

For some people, skin redness is simply a result of having sensitive skin. Using the right products to relieve redness and soothe skin can make a world of difference. If you struggle with a persistently red face, especially red cheeks, this could be a sign of a skin disorder, which your physician can diagnose. Following your doctor’s orders and putting together a gentle skin care routine is imperative.

A sneakier (and preventable) cause of skin redness is unknowingly using irritating skin care products. Being gentle to skin is essential for finally getting a red face back to normal and glowing.

SKIN REDNESS SOLUTION

Here’s a step-by-step guide of the best products to care for skin redness.

1. Ditch your drying, perfumed face wash and switch to a fragrance-free, skin-softening, water-soluble cleanser.

2. Immediately replenish skin after cleansing with a toner that delivers skin-strengthening ingredients like antioxidants and ceramides, plus calming agents to sooth face redness.

3. Trade abrasive scrubs for a leave-on exfoliant containing salicylic acid (also known as BHA) to gently remove built-up layers of dead skin and reveal the healthy-looking complexion hiding beneath. BHA also has natural soothing properties to calm skin redness while smoothing dry, flaky areas and rough, bumpy skin.

4. Broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater is a must during the day. Seek out mineral sunscreen actives titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, which are known to be ultra-gentle for skin prone to redness.

5. In the evening, soothe skin redness with a calming serum and hydrator formulated for your skin type.

Our comprehensive CALM Redness Relief Kits for Normal to Dry Skin or Normal to Oily Skin make following these steps easy and are specifically formulated for addressing skin redness and sensitivity, and are even suitable for those with rosacea.

REDUCING REDNESS ON FACE

In addition to following the routine above, make sure you aren’t using any other skin care products that could be triggering your red face.

• Toss out astringents or any skin care products that contain high concentrations of drying alcohol (listed as SD alcohol or alcohol denatured) or witch hazel.

• Get rid of treatments that contain irritating natural fragrant plant oils or extracts, such as lavender, grapefruit, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and rose. This includes essential oils—they contain volatile compounds research has shown aggravate skin.

• Stop applying products that contain synthetic fragrances, too (these may simply be listed as parfum or fragrance on the ingredient list). Fragrance is the #1 trigger of a red face and other signs of sensitivity.

WHAT ARE THE RED SPOTS ON MY FACE AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THEM?

Red spots on the face can come from numerous sources, but by far the most common are post-breakouts marks. On fair skin, these blemishes appear as pink-to-red spots; on deeper skin tones, they’re typically tan or dark brown and they’re stubborn but eventually fade. You can hasten this process by following the tips in this article.

Of course, acne itself is often red and there are other skin disorders that can result in short- or long-term red spots. If your red spots don’t respond to over-the-counter skin care (including acne treatments if necessary), it’s imperative you see a dermatologist to have your red spots examined and discuss medical solutions.