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How to Get Rid of Redness on the Face - Dermatologist Explains

Dermatologist helps get rid of redness on the face.

Many people want to reduce redness on the face because the skin problem is common and embarrassing. It can be a chronic problem for some and a new surprise for others.

Fixing facial redness quickly depends on knowing what skin condition is causing it and treating that specific cause. The correct skin care products and routine will effectively and quickly fight redness, rashes, red and dry spots, etc. on your face.

It is important to know that redness on your face indicates that your skin's barrier integrity is compromised and that you need to care gently for your skin so that it can heal. You want to keep your skin hydrated with moisturizers that help lock in moisture. Don't let your skin become dry, irritated, and dehydrated because that will slow the healing of your skin barrier integrity.

Facial Redness Treatment

How to treat facial redness yourself is something many people want to know - and many cosmetic skin care lines promise to help you do. Most of the time they just tint their products green to camouflage the redness.

The best facial redness treatment starts with a skin care routine that supports healing and resists triggering redness on the face. When you use the right skin care products and routine to treat facial redness or rash, you can take control of it. If you choose the wrong products, your facial redness will get worse.

Does Redness on Face Need to Be Treated Right Away?

Said another way, is red skin on your face just a cosmetic issue? No!

As a Board Certified Dermatologist, I know that redness on face skin (called erythema) from anything other than simple blushing needs to be addressed. Inflammation in the skin can lead to permanent skin problems such as hyperpigmentation, the development of permanent “broken” capillaries and scarring. If facial erythema does not subside with the remedies below, it should be evaluated and treated by a Board Certified Dermatologist.

Let’s look at some key tips and then further below we will take a deeper look at the best skin care products for facial redness, and how to set up a regimen that will quickly reduce redness on your face.

Key Tips for Choosing Products for Facial Redness Treatment to Help Calm Your Skin

Dr. Bailey's gentle skin care approach to cool down and reduce redness on your face:

  1. Follow a gentle skin care routine: This is a must for sensitive skin and when the red skin on your face is stubborn. Stop using all potentially irritating facial care products such as acne and anti-aging products. Even products enriched with high concentrations of botanical essential oils can cause irritation on weakened skin. See the 4-step routine below.
  2. Use a gentle facial cleanser: Choose redness relieving, hypoallergenic cleansers that are gentle for your complexion and that don’t leave your skin with a tight and dry feel that indicates impending irritation, skin dryness, and early skin barrier damage. This will also treat dry skin.
    1. Use cooler water temperature to avoid stripping skin oils and to constrict capillaries and reduce redness on face skin. Even avoid hot showers. See the best skin care products section below for a complete guide.
  3. Use a good facial moisturizer: Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to lock in skin hydration within the magic 3 minutes after toweling dry. This is important because hydrated skin heals faster than dry and stressed skin.
  4. Daily facial sun protection is vital: Sun protection helps to reduce skin redness and control some of the causes. Mineral sunscreens are best for sensitive skin prone to redness and a formulation with 5% or more zinc oxide gives the best protection. See more on sun exposure below.
  5. Use hypoallergenic and non-irritating skin care products: All of the products you use to treat your facial skin problems, such as acne, wrinkles, sun spots or rosacea and seborrhea, need to be hypoallergenic and as non-irritating as possible.
  6. If using makeup: Makeup or green concealer, if used, should be applied last in your routine (see routine steps below). Simple mineral based makeup products are best for rosacea and seborrhea because they lack potential allergens or irritants present in liquid makeups.
  7. Home remedies: There are some simple home remedies that can help reduce facial redness. They soothe both the redness and the symptoms, and they help your skin heal. I describe the two best home remedies useful below.

I've taken the guesswork out of finding products to reduce redness on facial skin. Below, we look at the best therapeutic skin care products and kits I specifically designed to reduce rashes and redness on the face:

The Best Skin Care Products to Get Rid of Facial Redness

You can reduce facial redness and heal your weakened skin barrier by using deeply hydrating products with a skin care routine that is soothing and does not overly dry or irritate your sensitive skin.

Since rosacea and seborrhea are often to blame for facial redness, using products that help these conditions will also help tame the redness.

Dermatologist’s Products to Reduce Redness on Face

I've treated thousands of people who struggle with facial redness for over 35 years and I am prone to it myself.

Based on my experience, I designed the following skincare kits to help my patients get rid of facial redness, rashes, rosacea, red and dry spots.

Below them, I describe how to use these products to build an effective skin care routine that will help reduce redness quickly.

1. Rosacea Therapy Kit

This is your complete skin care routine for facial redness
Reduce facial redness from rosacea with these dermatologist skin care products.

My Rosacea Therapy Kit combines all of the products that I use in my patient’s skin care routine to combat facial redness, including a really good mineral broad spectrum SPF sunscreen that is also important to reduce redness. Learn below why sun protection is crucial.

This kit eliminates the confusion of choosing separate products - the compatible products address the key elements to heal facial redness from both rosacea and seborrhea.

  1. Alternate the Calming Zinc Soap with pH balanced Extremely Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser
  2. Apply Green Tea Antioxidant Therapy after cleansing
  3. Layer my Daily Moisturizing Face Cream
  4. Finish with Sheer Strength Matte Tinted Sunscreen

With this kit, you are set to fight facial redness by following my dermatologist developed skin care routine to heal rosacea and seborrhea with exactly the products sensitive skin needs.

"I’ve tried just about every product, Rx and OTC, on the market and seen numerous dermatologists (spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in the process) to get some relief for my ultra-sensitive, rosacea-plagued face, and nothing has really helped…until now. Dr. Bailey’s Zinc Soap and Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy, followed by zinc oxide sunscreen has made a HUGE difference–and in only about a month. My itching and flaking are gone, the redness is almost gone, and I break out much less frequently. It’s like a miracle. I feel so fortunate to have come across her website and wonderful products, and I recommend them highly!" - Barbara, 7/16

2. Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit

Use this kit if you already have a pH balanced cleanser and mineral sunscreen and just need me to add the Calming Zinc, Green Tea Antioxidant Therapy, and the Daily Moisturizing Face Cream.

Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit

Know that using the right moisturizer helps heal redness prone skin and avoid facial redness. Dry skin never heals well and my Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit gives you the best moisturizer to use both as a day cream and a night cream.

3. Facial Redness Relief Kit

Use this kit if you already have a moisturizer, pH balanced facial cleanser, and mineral sunscreen that you love and know don’t aggravate your facial redness.

Facial Redness Relief Kit - with Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy

My popular Redness Relief Kit has the must have products to reduce redness on your face from rosacea and seborrhea. I combine the highest concentrations of pyrithione zinc soap and pharmaceutically pure stable green tea antioxidants, caffeine, hyaluronic acid and resveratrol (grape antioxidants) to soothe redness.

Choose the Perfect Kit for Your Needs

This chart compares the products included in the 3 kits to help you choose the one that best complement any products you are already using:

Chart comparing the products included in Dr Bailey's skincare kits to get rid of facial redness.

"I have become a complete believer in your methods, your products, and your integrity. Thank you for offering real help with the facial redness relief kit! My confidence and outlook are so much better than it was. (Your products) have been like miracles to me….” - Patty K., Puget Sound, 12/13

Now, let’s look at the routine to follow with these products:

4-Step Skin Care Routine for Facial Redness

best skin care to reduce facial rednessYou always get the best results when you follow a Complete Skin Care Routine built from compatible products that give your skin everything it needs to heal and stay free from facial redness, rash, and red dry spots.

The 4 essential skin care steps of Dr. Bailey’s skin care routine are the best way to get rid of redness on your face long term. They are: Cleanse, Correct, Hydrate, and Protect.

This anti-redness routine is built using my Rosacea Therapy Skin Care Kit, which contains all the products you need. It eliminates guesstimating and addresses redness, including from rosacea and seborrhea. Alternatively, if you want to build your own Complete Skin Care Routine to reduce facial redness, pick compatible products for each essential skin care step below.

Here are quick step by step instructions to the regimen strategy I use with my patients:

1. Cleanse

  • CLEANSE your facial skin with the non-drying zinc pyrithione soap from the kit once a day with cool or warm - not hot - water.
    Get rid of facial redness from seborrhea with this zinc soap.
      • It’s fortified with the maximum allowed 2% pyrithione zinc to help fight seborrhea and rosacea. The pyrithione zinc is crafted into a natural cleansing bar that is rich in soothing glycerin.
    • Sensitive skin: Since most people with rosacea and seborrhea have sensitive skin, my Rosacea Therapy Kit includes a gentle pH balanced cleanser to alternate with the zinc soap.
      • Alternate the Calming Zinc Bar in the morning with the soothing Extremely Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser in the evening, which cleans without irritation and leaves your skin in a soothing and neutral pH.
    • Flaking skin: If your facial redness from seborrhea is accompanied by skin flaking, you may benefit from a very gentle exfoliation when you cleanse.
      • Use a Facial Exfoliating Sponge (not part of the kit) with the Extremely Gentle Cleanser in the morning twice a week to help lift off facial flakes.
      • This exfoliation treatment may be too much, however, for skin suffering from rosacea.

    2. Correct

    CORRECT facial redness after cleansing. As part of every skin care routine I build, I replenish the skin's antioxidant reserve, which becomes depleted with the inflammation that leads to redness.

    Green tea cream calms facial redness.
    • The best antioxidant [4] facial skin care product for facial redness is Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy, included in the kit.
    • Apply it to your face twice a day right after cleansing.
    • It’s the most popular product in my practice and online store to help those suffering from all causes of facial redness, especially rosacea and seborrhea. It contains a uniquely high concentration of the right epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG polyphenol) pharmaceutical grade, stable green tea antioxidants in combination with caffeine and hyaluronic acid.

    "This amazing product saved my skin. I was at my wits end with my rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis because nothing was helping my red, dry flakey skin...until this! Within days I started to see a decrease in the flakes and within 2 weeks I had happier, healthier, supple looking skin again. THANK YOU, Dr. Bailey, for this miracle product." Tierney 

    • If medicated prescription products are used:
      • Apply them after the Green Tea cream. (Check with your doctor if this is right for you.)
      • I use clotrimazole cream twice a day for stubborn seborrhea red spots to treat Pityrosporum yeast [2] that plays a role in seborrhea and rosacea.

    3. Hydrate

    • HYDRATE skin suffering from facial redness by applying the Daily Moisturizing Face Cream from the kit twice daily, right after the Green Tea cream.
      • It is hypoallergenic, unscented, soothing, and restores and fortifies the skin barrier with ceramides and squalane to prevent flare-ups.
      • The hyaluronic acid in the Green Tea works really well with the squalane in the Face Cream without feeling greasy.
    • Boost skin barrier healing for extremely dry skin with a few drops of my Omega Enriched Facial Booster Oil (not included in the kit) containing sea buckthorn and other hypoallergenic organic botanical oils.

    4. Protect

    PROTECT facial skin prone to redness daily using mineral sunscreen because the sun can be a trigger to rosacea.

    Everything You Need to Combat Redness - in One Kit

    Get all of the products needed for your skin care routine to get rid of facial redness with my Rosacea Therapy Kit. It gives you all the products in a bundle discount. This is the best Complete Skin Care Routine to heal skin suffering from facial redness, rosacea, and seborrhea.

    "Complexions suffering from facial redness need a skin care routine built from hypoallergenic and non-irritating products to help support a healthy skin barrier that resists facial redness." Dermatologist Cynthia Bailey, MD

    Stubborn or severe rosacea or seborrhea should be treated by a dermatologist.

    "I would just like to say that I have struggled with terrible skin conditions for the past few years and it was progressively getting worse. Upon finding Dr. Bailey’s website and reading her many blog posts, I realized what I had was a combination of rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis (facial dandruff), which were causing the redness, facial flushing, and clogged pores. I immediately ordered her kit and my skin just continues to get better! I have since ordered many other products including her new mineral makeup! Thank you Dr. Bailey!" - Angie C, Wichita, Kansa

     

    Take Control: Build a Deeper Understanding of Facial Redness

    While information is valuable, true power lies in understanding. This section delves deeper into facial redness, empowering you to take control of your skin's health and make informed choices about treatment and prevention.

    Ingredients That Calm Inflammation to Help Fight Skin Redness

    Green Tea

    Green tea is one of the best solutions to reduce redness because it is soothing, anti- inflammatory, and rich in the right antioxidants [4] to heal skin. The most powerful green tea product is my Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy.

    The Green Tea Cream makes an enormous difference in my skin tone- taking out the red.  Carolyn K, Santa Rosa, CA

    Why is Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy an Important Step to Calming Facial Redness?
    Green tea cream calms facial redness.

    This cream contains the same high concentration of green tea antioxidant extract (polyphenols), caffeine and hyaluronic acid.  This is the magic trio of ingredients to quiet inflammation that leads to facial redness. This formulation creates an extraordinary skin care cosmeceutical and in my many years of dermatology practice I’ve never seen a product compare for facial redness relief.  My own rosacea and seborrhea prone skin loves the Green Tea Cream and I’m never without it on my skin. I have my patients apply Green Tea right after washing.  Other skin care products, if used, are applied on top.

    Other Ingredients

    Read labels and look for the following other helpful topical product ingredients to soothe red inflamed facial skin:

    • ceramides, squalane, aloe vera, glycerin, hypoallergenic botanical oils such as coconut [3], sunflower, jojoba, apricot, avocado, and shea butter.

    You will find these ingredients in my natural face lotions and moisturizing creams.

    Ingredients That Can Worsen Facial Redness

    Highly effective skin care ingredients that can aggravate facial redness include:

    • salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, fragrances, harsh preservatives, alcohol and AHAs such as glycolic acid
    • strong concentrations of seductive botanical essences that are so popular and lovely when applied to normal skin
    • chemical sunscreen active ingredients (but not the mineral UV filters zinc oxide or titanium dioxide)

    The harshness of these ingredients doesn't mean that they need to be entirely avoided. What it means is that the other aspects of your skin care routine need to support a healthy skin barrier.

    If seborrhea or rosacea are present, these conditions also need to be controlled with the skin care routine. Follow the 4-step skin care routine above for an effective treatment plan.

    "Sensitive redness prone facial skin may also be more prone to developing allergies and intolerances to some of the harsher, but highly effective, skin care ingredients present in acne treatment products and anti-aging products." - Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey

    What is the Best Makeup When Suffering from Facial Redness?

    If you wear makeup, I recommend you use simple mineral makeup powders. For example, my pure mineral powder products are the best choice for facial redness because they are hypoallergenic (without fragrance, filler, and preservatives that can cause skin allergy) and are non-irritating. They also cover complexion flaws beautifully without flaking.

    color correction for facial redness

    Pro Tip: Color Correcting with Makeup

    Use color science principles to cover red skin. The opposite color to red is green. Apply a green concealer under makeup or tinted sunscreen. The green color blocks the red wavelengths of light from being seen as they reflect off of your skin and is color correcting for red spots! It’s a nice way to put science and art to work while the redness of your facial skin heals.

    What Causes Facial Redness and Rashes on the Face?

    erythematotelangiectatic rosacea type 1Why is red facial skin extra sensitive? Facial redness typically means that the skin's barrier is weakened. This is true with the conditions that I explain below. Skin with weakened barrier is easily irritated, meaning it's sensitive.

    Red facial skin always indicates increased circulation in the skin's blood vessels, especially in the fine capillary network. It may also indicate inflammation in the facial skin.

    1. If the red flushed skin is simply due to increased circulation in the blood vessels (i.e. blushing) you know it will pass. We look at some home remedies later to help with this.
    2. If inflammation is involved then the solution is more complex.

    Let’s learn more about inflammation and facial redness:

    Top Skin Conditions That Cause Facial Red Skin Due to Inflammation

    1. Rosacea
    2. Seborrheic dermatitis
    3. Eczema including:
      1. Atopic dermatitis
      2. Irritant dermatitis due to excessively dry skin
      3. Contact dermatitis – both allergic and irritant due to something that touched your skin and caused a rash, including over exfoliation.
    4. Sunburn or photo allergic/toxic reactions
    5. Sun sensitivity due to taking oral medicines [5] can also lead to persistent facial redness
    6. Internal causes including Lupus [6], rare tumors that secrete flushing substances such as Carcinoid Syndrome [7] and Pheochromocytoma, and Asian Flushing Syndrome [8] due to alcohol

    Top Causes: Rosacea and Facial Seborrhea (Facial Dandruff)

    papulopustular rosacea type 2It's true, most people troubled with facial redness have either rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis - or both! [1] Rosacea is the classic cause of persistent redness on the face and Seborrhea is often present with rosacea prone skin. The areas of red facial skin are different in these two conditions.

    Facial Redness from Seborrheic Dermatitis

    The redness is situated along the sides of the hairline, brows, nose and chin and is accompanied with flaking.

    Facial redness from seborrheic dermatitis.

    Facial Redness from Rosacea

    Rosacea redness typically involves the 'apples' of the face including the mid-forehead, cheeks, chin and nose.

    Facial redness from rosacea

    Both Rosacea and Seborrheic Dermatitis

    Yes, you can have both - and it's common. The result is complete facial redness with flakey sensitive skin.

    Tips to Heal Facial Redness from Rosacea and Seborrheic Dermatitis

    The good news is that treatment overlaps for these 2 red complexion conditions. Treating them with the right skin care routine will help get rid of your facial redness.

    seborrheic dermatitis facial redness

    The bottom line with your skin care routine is how you take care of your skin when you’re prone to rosacea and seborrhea. It’s really important to healing or worsening your facial redness; do the wrong thing to your skin and you’ll end up with a really red face.

    That’s because when you have rosacea or seborrhea your skin is hypersensitive. Things that normal skin can tolerate, your skin can’t, including harsh or irritating skin care products, extreme climatic conditions, irritating chemical fumes, and many anti-aging skin care treatments. See the section above on ingredients that calm or worsen facial redness.

    You can ease your skin’s hypersensitivity by choosing a skin care regimen (see the 4 step skin care routine above) that quiets the underlying inflammation, adds no additional irritation and actually reverses some of the root causes of rosacea and/or seborrhea.

    My three skin care kits give you the tools to do exactly this:

    Find Your Perfect Facial Redness Solution

    Looking to combat facial redness? I created 3 targeted kits for my patients to treat facial redness, rashes, rosacea, seborrhea, red and dry spots.

    1. Rosacea Therapy Kit: This complete routine includes everything you need to tackle rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis.
      Reduce facial redness from rosacea with these dermatologist skin care products.
    2. Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit: Missing a few key pieces? This kit complements your existing pH balanced cleanser and mineral sunscreen with targeted products for redness and flaking.
      Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit
    3. Redness Relief Kit: Love your current moisturizer, pH balanced facial cleanser, and mineral sunscreen? This kit adds powerful products to your routine to calm and soothe redness.
      Facial Redness Relief Kit - with Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy

    See more details about the kits above and then follow the 4 step skin care routine section of this article on using these products for quick benefits.

    Which Facial Redness Solution Kit Do You Need?

    Use this chart to compare the 3 kits and choose the one with the products you need to add to your routine to achieve a calmer, clearer complexion:

    Chart comparing the products included in Dr Bailey's skincare kits to get rid of facial redness.

    "I have been using your products, and my rosacea is better than it’s been for years." Martha Sonoma County, CA

    Explore Further

    Understand rosacea and seborrhea more and take control of your complexion:

    Eczema and Facial Redness

    Eczema can also cause redness of facial skin from irritation due to exposure to harsh climates, skin care products or skin treatments.

    Three Different Types of Eczema Can Cause Redness on Face

    In all of them, you need to build an entirely hypoallergenic facial care routine that allows barrier to heal and inflammation to subside.

    Types of eczema that cause facial erythema:

    • Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema that usually is hereditary and involves more than just the face.
    • Allergic eczema from contact with something you are allergic to such as spray home cleaners, hair care products etc.
    • Irritant dermatitis is caused when your skin’s barrier breaks down due to direct contact with something harsh such as harsh solvents, dish soap, acne treatment ingredients, etc.

    How to Heal a Red Complexion from Eczema

    Your skin care routine must be hypoallergenic, hydrating and fight inflammation. Using the carefully selected product in my skin care kits described above, and following my 4 step skin care routine is how I cool down facial inflammation and skin redness from many causes.

    get rid of facial redness from seborrhea with this

    "I got my husband to use the Calming Zinc Bar and it blew his mind! All his life he had felt there was a thing about men having oily skin; he would wash his face twice a day and still get red and have blemishes. Now he is using the Calming Zinc twice a day and his skin is so much better. He said to me “I’m really impressed and glad I did that”. Eva M Sebastopol, CA

    Learn more about the routine Dr. Bailey uses to combat her eczema.

    Internal Causes of Red Skin on Your Face

    These include conditions such as Lupus [6], carcinoid syndrome [7], pheochromocytosis and Asian Flushing [8]. They should be evaluated and treated by a physician.

    Interestingly, Asian flushing may be reduced by applying brimonidine gel, 0.33% [9] an hour before enjoying a cocktail. Taking an antihistamine [10] prior to consuming alcohol may also reduce flushing but there are severe risks. If this is the cause of your red facial skin, I think it is a good idea to learn more about Asian flushing because the phenomenon is not entirely a cosmetic annoyance. Clearly, the other 3 diagnoses need medical evaluation as well.

    Sun Exposure and Facial Redness: Understanding the Connection

    Facial redness is a common reaction to sun exposure, and for those prone to rosacea, it's even more crucial to understand the sun's impact. This section dives into how sun sunburn, sun exposure, and sun allergy contributes to redness and the importance of sun protection.

    Sun-protect red facial skin using a hat and a pure mineral sunscreen.

    Why Sunscreen and Sun Protection Matter

    Since sun exposure contributes to both redness and worsening of rosacea, non-irritating sun protection is vital in your skin care routine.

    Pure mineral-based sunscreens made with 5% or more mineral zinc oxide with or without titanium dioxide are best for complexions prone to facial redness. They give the broad spectrum UV protection with a transparent finish, and are a pleasure to use every day.New tinted facial spf 50 with iron oxide

    I recommend you apply the Sheer Strength Pure Physical Invisible Sunscreen, SPF 50.

    I always like a 'real' sunscreen and never recommend a moisturizer with SPF because they usually do neither job well, especially with sensitive rosacea prone skin.

     

    Why Does Sunburn Cause Facial Skin Redness?

    It’s actually a normal reaction from overexposure to UV rays which lead to an inflammatory cascade of events and redness. Redness from summer UVB sun usually begins 6 hours after exposure and peaks at 12-24 hours. It can show up faster and be more severe in extreme sun exposure situations.

    Sun Allergy and Redness

    Red facial skin can also be caused by sun allergy and phototoxicity, triggered by medicines you take and substances you apply to your skin.

    Facial skin is frequently exposed to sun and often the first area to manifest sun allergy or phototoxicity. Even sun through window glass can cause these reactions. If you have applied a sun sensitizing chemical (natural or synthetic), or are taking a sun sensitizing medicine you may experience excessive facial redness after UV exposure.

    Common Medicines That Cause Sun Sensitivity [5] and Redness of Facial Skin:

    • Tetracyclines including doxycycline and minocycline
    • Sulfa drugs
    • Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and ofloxacin
    • NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and naproxen
    • Blood pressure and fluid pills such as: Furosemide (Lasix), HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide), Diltiazem
    • Amiodarone
    • Quinidine
    • Isotretinoin and acitretin
    • Diabetes medicines such as glipizide and glyburide
    • Statins
    • Some biologic medicines

    How to Reduce Sun Sensitivity Redness Due to Medicines?

    It is always important to use a broad spectrum SPF on facial skin daily. This will help reduce flare ups of red face skin from a medicine sun allergy. Even so, if you think a medicine is causing your skin to be red, you need to see your doctor.

    Sun Allergy from Topical Products

    Sun allergy due to substances applied to your skin are usually due to fragrance and essential oils.

    This is also called berloque dermatitis [11] and it can be quite dramatic. Substances that can cause this include fragrances in bergamot, citrus, and musk ambrette. Many of these ingredients are no longer used in perfumes but berloque dermatitis is making a comeback because of the popularity of essential oils.

    Essential Oils and Sun Sensitivity

    Why can essential oils cause skin burns when exposed to UV rays? Some natural essential oils contain compounds called furocoumarins [12], which are photosensitizers that intensely increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV light, including light in tanning beds and through windows. Plants and essential oils containing furocoumarins include:

    • lime and all citrus, yarrow, dill, fennel, parsley, St. John’s wort, mustard, bergamot, wild garden parsnip, wild and garden carrot, fig, cowslip, angelica

    Browse my dermatologist recommended sunscreen and sun protection products.

    Home Remedies

    How to Cool Your Face Fast with Home Remedies

    Dr. Bailey's Gentle Skin Care to reduce facial redness

    This approach relieves redness because it will constrict the facial capillaries and shunt the blood flow away from skin. This home remedy can be used for all forms of redness on face skin:

    • Apply a spritz of cool water or a cool water-soaked cloth to facial skin.
    • In a pinch, you can simply place a cool glass of water to your flushing cheeks.
    • You can use cool soaks made of chilled brewed green tea, which is anti-inflammatory and will help get rid of redness. I don’t recommend adding anything else to the tea such as citrus; simply use water or plain green tea.

    Aloe Vera and Cucumber Home Remedy

    aloe vera home remedy to reduce facial rednessThis home redness relieving remedy with an aloe vera and cucumber mask is one of the best DIY treatments you can do at home to soothe and calm your skin.

    1. Cut an aloe vera leaf and let it drain cut side down for several hours to remove the stinky waxy fluid between the skin and the clear inner pulp.
    2. Carefully slice off all the green outer leaf.
    3. Blend the pulp with cucumber and chill.
    4. Dilute as necessary with chilled water to create a cooling mask and apply to your inflamed facial skin.
    5. Allow the mask to sit for 10 minutes.
    6. You can spritz it with cool water to help cool the heat in your skin.
    7. When done, rinse well with cool water and apply a moisturizer.
    8. Repeat as necessary.

    You can keep your blended mask in the fridge for a day or two. Always apply it chilled.

    The Bottom Line from a Dermatologist Regarding Facial Redness

    dermatologist explains facial rednessThe bottom line is that the skin is sensitive and needs special care. I can’t emphasize enough how important your skin care routine is for controlling facial redness - the right products will help your skin heal and the wrong products will aggravate the problem.

    Blushing is temporary but redness from inflammation needs to be treated. In my 35+ years practicing as a Board Certified Dermatologist, I know that red facial skin often means weakened skin barrier, skin is easily irritated and sensitive. Redness prone facial skin may also be more prone to allergies and intolerances to some of the harsher acne treatment products and anti aging products, chemical sunscreens, and more.

    Treat Your Facial Redness with the Right Products

    Complexions suffering from facial redness need hypoallergenic and non-irritating products for their facial care.

    1. Rosacea Therapy Kit: This comprehensive kit provides everything you need to get rid of redness caused by both rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. It simplifies your routine and offers a complete approach to managing these conditions.
    2. Facial Flaking and Redness Solution Kit: This kit perfectly complements your existing pH balanced cleanser and mineral sunscreen by adding targeted products specifically formulated to address redness and flaking. It bridges the gap in your current routine and provides focused relief.
    3. Redness Relief Kit: Love your current cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen? No problem! This kit enhances your existing routine by adding powerful ingredients specifically designed to calm and soothe redness.

    Remember, for the quickest and most effective results, follow the detailed 4 step skin care routine outlined in this article. This routine details how to use these kits to maximize their benefits.

    Empower Yourself with Knowledge

    Gain a deeper understanding of rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis and take control of your complexion by exploring the resources below:

    By combining targeted skincare solutions with a deeper understanding of your condition, you can achieve lasting results and a calmer, clearer complexion.

    References

    1. Luis J. Borda and Tongyu C. Wikramanayake, Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review, J Clin Investig Dermatol., 2015 Dec; 3(2): 10.13188/2373-1044.1000019.
    2. Gary G. Optimizing treatment approaches in seborrheic dermatitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013;6(2):44–49.
    3. Verallo-Rowell VM1, Dillague KM, Syah-Tjundawan BS., Novel antibacterial and emollient effects of coconut and virgin olive oils in adult atopic dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2008 Nov-Dec;19(6):308-15.
    4. Joi A. Nichols and Santosh K. Katiyar, Skin photoprotection by natural polyphenols: Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and DNA repair mechanisms, Arch Dermatol Res. 2010 March ; 302(2): 71. doi:10.1007/s00403-009-1001-3.
    5. Alexandra Y Zhang, MD, Drug-Induced Photosensitivity, MedScape
    6. Lupus-Specific Skin Disease and Skin Problems, Johns Hopkins Lupus Center
    7. Gade, Ajay K et al. “Carcinoid Syndrome: A Review.” Cureus vol. 12,3 e7186. 5 Mar. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.7186
    8. A mutation causing alcohol-related ‘Asian glow’ may have ties to Alzheimer’s disease, Stanford Medicine
    9. Yu WY, Lu B, Tan D, et al. Effect of Topical Brimonidine on Alcohol-Induced Flushing in Asian Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2020;156(2):182–185
    10. Antihistamines prevent ‘Asian flush’ — alcohol-induced facial redness — but pose risks, USC Today, Dec. 2016
    11. Gruson LM, Chang MW. Berloque Dermatitis Mimicking Child Abuse. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156(11):1091–1093
    12. Nguyen, D.A., Muhammad, M.K., Lee, G.L. (2020). Phytophotodermatitis. In: Trevino, J., Chen, AY. (eds) Dermatological Manual of Outdoor Hazards. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37782-3_4