Sure, glass skin sounds ideal, but the truth of the matter is that the majority of us are dealing with some degree of facial redness, splotchiness, and sensitivity. At its best, redness on your face can be annoying, but at its worst, it can be an indication of underlying health issues and a source of irritation, discomfort, or insecurity.
We asked industry experts and board-certified dermatologists to explain what causes facial redness as well as recommend tried-and-true products to reduce,calm, and neutralize your facial redness for good, whether your irritation is caused by acne, rosacea, sensitivity, or anything between.
What causes redness in the face?
There are a myriad of things that could contribute to facial redness, from lifestyle, to the skin care products you’re using, to your health. “Rosacea, genetics, allergy to skin care ingredients, heat, sun exposure, alcohol, spicy food, acne, dryness, or over-exfoliation” can all contribute to redness, says New York-based dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, M.D.
To figure out why your skin is looking angry, “a visit to a dermatologist office is the best first step in addressing the issue and ruling out any hidden causes,” says Sabina Wizemann, Senior Chemist at the GH Beauty Lab. That way, you’ll know that you’re getting to the root of the issue instead of treating the redness arbitrarily.
How do you calm a red face?
In order to properly treat redness, first, you need to identify the culprit:
If you’re suffering from acne-related redness, the sooner you can act on it, the better. “Salicylic acid or glycolic acid peels can help, as they promote cellular turnover to remove the top layers of the skin,” says Engelman. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid is packed with salicylic acid to banish acne, smooth skin tone,
and unclog and shrink large, congested pores. After the acne mark has faded, make sure to incorporate an oil-free hydrating cream, like Perricone MD Oil-Free Hydrating Cream, to protect acne-prone skin from overly drying out (which could potentially cause more redness), without causing more acne.
