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A GUIDE TO VISIBLY REDUCING FACIAL REDNESS

Article Overview

Facial redness is one of the most common skin concerns. There are multiple causes for redness and facial flushing, including environmental factors like a warm day or exercise, as well as possible underlying skin conditions. The good news, however, is that regardless of what is causing redness on your face, there are a range of effective anti-redness skin care options that will even out your skin tone, visibly reduce blotchy skin and soothe sensitive skin.
Understanding the benefits vitamin C for the skin, and the different forms in which it comes, will help you select the most suitable products for your skin needs.

WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR REDDENED SKIN?

In order to visibly reduce facial redness, it’s important to understand what’s behind it.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that is characterised by persistent redness, flushing, visible blood vessels and often papules. While there’s no cure for Rosacea, it can be managed. People that suffer from Rosacea will know there are certain triggers that cause it to flare up - temperature changes, spicy food and alcohol can all worsen Rosacea symptoms. If Rosacea is behind your reddened skin, there is a range of skincare products available to help target redness and reduce its appearance.

SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer is a soothing gel cream designed to calm and soothe redness. It works by targeting inflammation that results in redness and flushing. Use this twice a day as part of your skin care regime and begin to see a visible reduction in redness.

Sensitive Skin

Often redness is caused by sensitive skin and using products that irritate or inflame it. If you suffer from sensitive skin prone to redness, make sure you’re using comforting, soothing products rather than harsh or drying ones.

Avoid products like Retinol, AHAs, BHAs, scrubs and exfoliants and instead opt for oils, products containing hyaluronic acid or those designed to comfort and soothe sensitive skin.

If you are a frequent user of exfoliants or retinol, it’s possible that you may just be using these products too regularly, or leaving them on your skin for too long. A good place to start might be giving your skin a break from these active products to allow your skin to settle down, before reintroducing them gradually, one by one. This way, you will gain a better understanding of your skin’s comfort limit.

An ideal choice to minimise the appearance of redness in sensitive skin is the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist. This facial mist is formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to deliver skin with a boost of hydration, while the botanical blend of boldus leaf, cucumber, thyme, olive leaf and rosemary extract works to visibly reduce redness in skin for effective results. As an essence, it can be applied in the morning after cleanser and toners, however can also be reapplied as desired throughout the day – even on top of makeup.

Eczema

Eczema is a common skin condition, but it can be difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are very similar to allergic contact dermatitis. Both conditions are characterised by red, dry, flaky and often itchy patches on your skin. If you think that eczema might be causing your facial redness, the best thing to do is make an appointment to see a dermatologist, rather than trying to tackle your symptoms with over-the-counter products.

In the meantime, it’s important to avoid harsh and active products while you wait for your skin to calm down. The good news is that eczema is responsive to your environment, so while things like cold weather and a change in your skin care routine can flare it up, adjusting some of these triggers can minimise your symptoms quite quickly.

Acne

Acne redness can be a frustrating and challenging issue that many people deal with at some point in their lives. Unlike many of the other conditions mentioned, acne redness goes hand-in-hand with other symptoms of acne including blemishes like papules, pustules and cysts.

A targeted and direct approach is best, so focus on targeting acne blemishes while they’re fresh. In this case, using products with retinol, salicylic acid and glycolic acid can be particularly effective in managing these outbreaks.

If you are finding that your acne redness is persistent, there are other clinical treatments that may be effective, like laser therapy and LED light therapy.

Sun Exposure

Exposure to the sun can be a cause of rednes, even if you’re not sunburnt. Repeated exposure to the sun can cause persistent reddened skin, as well as aggravate and inflame existing skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. If you use retinol, your skin will also be far more sensitive to the sun.

In all cases, prevention is the best strategy, so incorporate a high SPF sunscreen into your daily skin care routine. It’s best to apply sunscreen every day, even if you’re not planning to be in the sun. Remember to reapply every two hours for prolonged sun exposure and especially if swimming or exercising.

For post sun exposure, use a comforting soothing product such as the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel Serum or Phyto Corrective Masque.

Both these products combine the gentle moisturising qualities of hyaluronic acid with the cooling and calming properties of botanicals like cucumber, olive extract and thyme to visibly reduce redness and soothe the skin. You can apply the anti-redness serum daily each morning before your sunscreen and use the masque whenever your skin is feeling heated or irritated, like after exercise, spending time in the sun or swimming in a chlorinated pool.

STEPS TO REDUCE SKIN REDNESS

Once you have identified the cause of your facial redness, you can formulate a plan of action to best manage it. If your redness is due to environmental factors, simply being more aware of your environment and its potential impact on your skin could be a good place to start. Take steps to keep your temperature even, stay out of the sun and even consider eating more leafy greens, fish or turmeric which all have anti-inflammatory properties. If you think an underlying skin condition is responsible, visit a dermatologist for a diagnosis and be aware of any triggers that might cause your condition to flare up.

Overall, whether it’s dialling back the active ingredients like retinol or investing in soothing anti-redness skin care products, there will be a suitable option that will reduce the appearance of redness and leave your face feeling more soothed and comfortable.

Next: Which antioxidant serum is right for you?