Having fair skin, redness is something I have had to struggle with my whole life. Whether its a presentation in college or encountering new people, my face conveyed the anxiety and confusion with a vehement shade of rouge. It is like all my recollections are tinted with red.

From using different skincare products to counter redness to putting ice on my face, I have come to realise that to tackle redness you must have a proper skincare regime rather than making use of one-time fixes. If, like me, you are also facing the redness issue, here is what you must know…

Causes and Treatments

Many of us struggle to comprehend the reason behind our redness. Defining the origins of your redness is the first step to bidding goodbye to it for good. There are many factors from your lifestyle to your health, to the skincare products you swear by. Genetics, rosacea, skin allergies, sun, spicy food, dryness, acne and heat can all lead to redness.

Rosacea

This is a skin condition found in light skinned complexions. It manifests in multiple forms like flat redness and red pimple-like bumps. It affects the face but its causes are not known. There are triggers which can be measured with treatment.

How to treat

There is no permanent cure for rosacea. There are some skincare products which calm inflammation associated with it by constricting blood vessels. You may also want to consider antibiotics in low doses and in extreme cases you can opt for laser treatment. In any given case, wait for a period of six weeks to see noticeable results.

Most important of all however is that you keep your skin barrier strong. For this use cleansers, moisturizers with a soothing impact, complete avoidance of exfoliating ingredients is suggested. When it concerns the rest of your skincare routine, just seek any product with redness relief.

Spicy foods

Consuming spicy food can trigger redness on the face. This happens because spicy food dilates the blood vessels in the skin surface owing to their heat generating ability. Therefore, increasing blood flow towards the face, making it appear flushed.

Dermatitis

Foreign substances like soaps, hair dyes, fragrances etc at times cause an allergic reaction to the skin. This leads to redness and is called contact dermatitis. Some common irritation causing ingredients are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

How to treat

Just like eczema, this is also treated with hydrocortisone ointment. You should figure out what is causing the reaction and avoid its use. You can do this by visiting your dermatologist who will conduct a patch test which will determine what ingredients you are sensitive to.

You should try using fragrance-free laundry detergents and apply bland moisturizers. These will build back your skin barrier and help you to heal.

Eczema

Eczema also referred to as atopic dermatitis is characterized by a rash which appears suddenly and causes dry, itchy patches on the skin. it can appear anywhere on the skin. It is very difficult to diagnose since it is quite similar to an allergic reaction.

How to treat

To treat this brooding mystery of skin conditions, you must stop scrolling through google and consult your dermatologist. A careful assessment of the skincare products that you use will be done to determine what you are actually experiencing.

At most times, eczema is treated with hydrocortisone infused skincare products and anti-inflammatory ointments. These calm the inflammation and redness associated with it. you can keep your skincare routine normal but subtract the fragrance-based products altogether. Also steer clear of retinol and embrace hypoallergenic products and notice visible results shortly. These conditions flare with change of weather and skincare products, so they also respond readily when these conditions are enhanced.

Over exfoliation

If you notice redness on your face right after exfoliation, it is a sign you are overdoing it. over exfoliation causes redness especially when the skin is dry. This weakens the skin barrier and makes your skin susceptible to infection from bacteria and fungus.

How to treat

To normalize things, put aside the exfoliants and strengthen your skin barrier with a lot of moisture. Skincare products comprising ceramides and niacinamides have a hydrating impact on the skin and play a role in strengthening the skin barrier.

Acne and dry skin

Acne appears on oily skin because of excessive production of oil which congested pores. An acne breakout can cause redness on your face. It can also occur on dry skin when it comes in contact with certain substances.

How to treat

You should treat the redness that comes with acne immediately when it's fresh. Make salicylic acid, retinol and glycolic acid your best friends. In more severe cases, you can go for a laser treatment.

Sun

Sun exposure is the most common cause of skin redness. The ultra-violet radiation harms the skin which causes more blood to rush towards the exposed skin to repair it.

How to treat

Do not skip your sunscreen ever! But in case you have skipped the application of sunscreen and gotten a sunburn, use soothing products to calm the redness.

Other causes

Side effect of medication

The consumption of certain medications can cause an adverse reaction on the skin, which makes it appear red. A common example would be facial redness after applying ointments containing hydrocortisone.

Overuse of retinol

Application of retinol-based products makes the skin susceptible to sun, which causes facial redness.

Genetic flushing

This is prevalent during times of anxiety and stress, causing red blotches to appear on the face and neck and sometimes the entire body.

Poor quality products

It is best to be safe when applying cosmetics on your face, always try to go with trusted brands. The poor quality of ingredients used in cosmetics can cause the skin to break out.

So, girls next time you experience redness issues. Do not stress out. Just keep calm and try treating it with one of the above tips. And you will notice visible results!