Overview
Chronic face redness is usually caused by a disease called rosacea, a skin disease in which the blood vessels on your face become defective, enlarge and make the skin on your face look flushed in appearance. The National Rosacea Foundation says rosacea can be caused by skin bacteria, poor blood flow and skin mites. Your rosacea can be irritated by sun damage, immune problems or even psychological factors. About 14 million Americans suffer from rosacea. Dermatologists say while rosacea cannot be cured, there are several things you can do to get rid of the redness in your face with the right treatment plan.
Step 1
Try intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment. Dermatologists have been uing IPL for more than 20 years to treat the symptoms of rosacea. During IPL, a dermatologist will use a laser beam filled with multiple wavelengths to pulse light on your rosacea to reduce the redness. Dr. Neumann Haaf-von Below’s study done at the Department of Laser Therapy found that 78% of the facial redness in patients treated with IPL disappeared in 52 months. Be aware that IPL treatments require multiple visits to the dermatologist and can be costly.
Step 2
Avoid contact with your skin. If you have rosacea, any contact with that skin can make your condition worse. When you touch the red skin on your face, you transfer all the germs and bacteria from your hand to your already red skin. Wear a scarf whenever possible when you are outdoors. Wash your face two times a day with a mild face soap. Keep your facial skin clean and well protected.
Step 3
Go to your dermatologist for a topical medication. Topical medications come in the form of a cream applied right on the rosacea on your face. Topical medications help calm down facial inflammation and reduce the redness. The most popular topical medications for rosacea are tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide.
Step 4
Go to your dermatologist for antibiotics. Antiobiotics contain anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce the redness of your rosacea. The most popular types of antibiotics are tetracycline and minocycline.
Step 5
Stay out of the sun. UV rays cause your rosacea to flare up and become irritated. If you are going to be out in the sun, wear a hat, sunglasses, and put on sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen has an SPF of at least 15 or higher. If you wear make-up, buy a brand that is non-allergenic and contains few chemicals and oils.
About this Author
Emily Ann has been a writer ever since she graduated college in 2005. Ann has experience in broadcast media, and wants to bring her knowledge of breaking down complex stories into easy-to-follow articles for the various online publications for which she writes.
