How to reduce
facial redness

Facial redness is often a cause of concern for many people. Irritating red blotches on your face can become persistent and even painful depending on the severity. But what actually causes facial redness, and how can you reduce redness on your face?

Read on to discover answers to your questions on this topic, including the main causes of a red face and the many effective ways you can treat it.

What are
the red blotches on your face?

The red blotches on your face, known as facial redness, can show up as flushed skin on your cheeks, thickened and uneven skin around your nose, or the appearance of small visible blood vessels across your face.

The way facial redness looks can differ depending on the cause, and it can be linked to an abnormality within the face’s venous system (such as dilated facial blood vessels). You might notice short-term facial redness through emotional responses such as blushing, while more intense forms of facial redness can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

What causes a red face

Why is your face
RED?

Facial redness can be caused by a variety of conditions, including medical issues and emotional responses. Red blotches on your face may emerge from sun exposure, allergic reactions, acne breakouts or even sudden changes in temperature.

If your face has been constantly feeling irritated and you want to ease the discomfort, understanding what is causing your facial redness is really important. Facial redness can be triggered by the following conditions:

1
Over-exfoliation:
Exfoliation can help remove dirt and pollutants from your skin, but exfoliating too often can damage your skin’s protective barrier, often leading to facial redness and a feeling of tightness. Over-exfoliation strips your skin of its natural oils, so it’s important to give your skin the chance to recover between exfoliating sessions.

2
Alcohol flush reactions:
Facial redness can pop up when some people drink alcohol. This is a sign of alcohol intolerance and is caused by differences in our genes. Some people get it, and some won’t.

3
Sun overexposure:
Sunscreen is important! Heading out in the sun and not protecting your skin can cause signs of facial redness both in the short and long term. It’s much better to protect your skin from further damage by applying sunscreen to prevent sun overexposure, rather than trying to reverse it later on.
Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection, wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses when exposed to the sun.

4
Spider veins:
Spider veins can appear when you don’t protect your skin from the sun. As you age, sun damage builds up, causing fine red veins to show up around your nose.

5
Warmth:
When your body overheats, your skin can turn red as blood moves closer to the surface of your skin to help cool you down.

6
Allergic reactions:
Allergic reactions on your skin can be triggered by a variety of substances or specific skincare ingredients you might be allergic to. If red rashes or hives keep showing up on your skin, make sure you seek professional help.

7
Eczema:
This may show up as red, white or purple bumps, depending on your skin colour. Eczema is a medical condition that causes skin to become itchy, dry and cracked, and it can be triggered by allergic reactions as well as genetics.

8
Acne breakouts:
Inflammation from acne breakouts might be the reason your face is feeling so red and irritated. When excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells get into your pores, this causes redness and swelling. You may see small red bumps appearing on your face. The good news is there are many ways to combat acne breakouts.

9
Facial flushing:
Facial flushing happens when your blood vessels dilate and your face temporarily turns red. Compared to blushing, facial flushing is much more intense and is often the result of emotional stressors such as anxiety or embarrassment. It can also be triggered by medical conditions, including high fever or rosacea. If you’re worried about facial flushing, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor for advice.

What causes a red face

Facial
FLUSHING

Skin flushing happens when blood flow to your skin increases, and it can be triggered by a variety of skin conditions. A common skin condition that leads to facial flushing is rosacea. The exact cause of rosacea isn’t known, but there are a number of factors that suggest rosacea in humans could be linked to overactive immune systems, abnormalities in blood vessels, or hereditary causes.

Common triggers that can cause rosacea flare-ups include:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Stress
Intense exercise
Too much sunlight / heat
Spicy food
Cold weather
Humidity
Dairy
Medications

If you’ve noticed facial flushing and persistent facial redness after any of these common triggers, you might be experiencing rosacea. Other symptoms to watch out for include dry or sensitive skin and facial swelling.

If you keep taking good care of your skin, you can often ease these symptoms and refresh your overall complexion. If you’re concerned about rosacea, make sure you consult a doctor.

Treating
FACIAL REDNESS

Makeup is designed to cover up imperfections on your face, but it’s only a temporary way to reduce signs of facial redness. The best way to treat facial redness is to limit how often it shows up by taking proper care of your health and your skin. You can do this through a number of simple lifestyle changes, including:

1. Exercise:

Exercise is essential for your wellbeing and stress management, but it can cause short-term facial redness. If you’re concerned about a flushed face, you can tweak the way you work out – for example, by changing the length of your sessions or choosing a cooler environment to exercise in.

2. Applying sunscreen:

As you get older, sun damage can cause your face to gradually look redder. This is because the sun can permanently stretch small blood vessels which, over time, gives your skin a reddish tinge. So start applying sunscreen every time you leave the house. Check out NIVEA’s range of suncare products, perfect for helping to reduce facial redness.

3. Relaxation:

Stress can change your complexion, so make sure you take some time out to relax. Simple techniques like deep breathing, meditation or even something as easy as smiling can sometimes help reduce unwanted facial redness.

4. Diet:

There are quite a few foods and drinks that can contribute to facial redness. Foods containing histamine (like tomatoes, chocolate and nuts) can cause your blood vessels to dilate, which can trigger rosacea. A high-sugar diet can also alter your hormones, which in turn can make acne and facial redness worse.

5. Avoiding scented beauty products:

Facial redness often goes hand in hand with sensitive skin, and it might be that your skin is reacting to scented products. Try avoiding fragranced products for a while and see if you notice any improvement in your complexion.

6. Cool baths:

A cool bath can help calm red rashes, especially when redness is related to heat or rosacea.

However, if you know your facial redness is linked to a skin condition, or it’s been irritating you for a long period of time, NIVEA recommends visiting your local dermatologist.

Treating facial redness

How to cure redness on your face overnight
with the right ingredients

Another effective way to tackle facial redness overnight is to use skincare products with the right ingredients. Three ingredients commonly found in skincare that are highly recommended for treating facial redness are Aloe Vera, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid.

Aloe vera:
Aloe Vera is an ingredient that can help reduce signs of facial redness thanks to its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera can be used to soothe sunburn and support wound healing, and it’s extremely effective in targeting skin conditions including eczema, rosacea and acne breakouts. The NIVEA Refreshing Night Cream, enriched with organic Aloe Vera, is a great choice if you want to improve your complexion by reducing red blotches on your face while keeping your skin moisturised.

Salicylic acid:
Salicylic Acid is mostly found in skincare products that target blemishes. Known as an excellent chemical exfoliant, Salicylic Acid can help remove dead skin cells from your face. This keeps your skin fresh and reduces the chance of acne breakouts, making it an ideal ingredient for reducing facial redness.

Glycolic acid:
Glycolic Acid is a fruit acid that can visibly improve your skin’s appearance by removing dead skin cells. This helps you maintain healthy skin and stops excess oil or pollutants from penetrating too deeply – both of which are root causes of facial redness.

A word from our expert:

"Some other active ingredients known to soothe the skin, with anti-inflammatory properties and barrier-strengthening effects, are Vitamin E, Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and Bakuchiol."

- Dr Andre Mahns, Head of Global Development. With a doctorate in biology and over 15 years of experience in skin research at Beiersdorf, Dr Mahns has in-depth scientific knowledge of skincare and cosmetic ingredients.

Treating facial redness

Products to help with facial redness -
Derma Skin Clear

If acne breakouts are a major cause of facial redness for you, have a look at the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range. This range combines both Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid with other beneficial ingredients to create products that can help combat blemishes and reduce facial redness. All products are mildly formulated and have been clinically tested, with NIVEA studies showing visibily clearer skin in 7 days*

_{*tested on 42 participants under supervision of a dermatologist.}

Treating facial redness

How to get rid of redness on your face:
home remedies

If you’re looking for home remedies that can help ease facial redness, try making your own face masks using ingredients like Aloe Vera and cucumber extract. By blending cucumbers with some oatmeal, you can create your own homemade cooling mask, which can be really effective in toning down redness. Placing cucumber slices on red spots can also help cool the skin and reduce redness.

Clay masks can also be really helpful when you’re dealing with irritation from facial redness. Luckily, they’re simple to make. Try mixing water with facial clay to create a thick paste, then spread it across your face for 20 minutes before rinsing it off. If your redness is coming from sunburn, mixing some Aloe Vera with white vinegar and cider vinegar can help ease the sting.

Other ingredients that can help tone down facial redness include:

Honey
Chamomile tea bags
Lavender oil
Coconut oil
Yoghurt

Home remedies can help ease symptoms of facial redness, but following a tailored skincare routine is still the best option whenever you can.

Understanding
your skin

It’s important to understand what the root causes of facial redness are for you. Some concerns can be managed with simple changes, like being more consistent with sunscreen application or choosing skincare products that help combat facial redness. However, it’s also important to recognise that if you’re ever in doubt, seeking medical advice is always the best move.