How to reduce redness on the face

What facial redness can mean

Flushing is a brief burst of redness caused by blood vessels widening in the skin, and it can happen for reasons other than rosacea. Rosacea can bring repeated flushing or redness that stays, small visible blood vessels, bumps, skin burning or stinging, and sometimes eye symptoms. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin. Rosacea can also look like acne, dermatitis and other conditions, so redness alone cannot identify the cause.124

Use this daily routine

1. 1Cleanse with a gentle cleanser. For skin with rosacea, mild synthetic detergent cleansers are preferred over traditional soap, which can irritate.
2. 2Moisturize frequently.
3. 3Wear sunscreen every day with SPF 30 or higher. Physical sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide protect against ultraviolet light and visible light, and may be better tolerated than chemical sunscreens.
4. 4Avoid exfoliants and topical steroids as routine fixes for facial redness. Topical steroids can aggravate rosacea.

Green tinted cosmetics can minimize the appearance of redness. They change how redness looks rather than address its cause.2

Find the triggers that matter to you

Keep a short diary of when redness appears and what happened beforehand. Possible rosacea triggers include sunlight, hot or cold temperatures, hot drinks, alcohol, spicy food, exercise, stress, cosmetics and some medicines. Avoid the triggers you identify instead of treating every item on a general list as a personal trigger. If heat, sunlight or humid conditions make symptoms worse, try to avoid them; cover your face in cold weather.12

What to expect from rosacea treatment

Rosacea is a long term condition with flares and quieter periods. There is no cure, but skin care, lifestyle measures and treatment can help control symptoms. Think of this as managing recurring redness, not removing it permanently.25

A GP may prescribe creams or gels, or recommend an oral antibiotic course lasting 6 to 16 weeks. Treatment depends on the symptoms: options for flushing or lasting redness include topical brimonidine or oxymetazoline, while topical azelaic acid or metronidazole can be used for mild to moderate bumps. Light treatment or vascular laser can be options for persistent redness. Some treatments target one feature, so a clinician may combine approaches when several features are present or rosacea is severe. A GP may refer you to a dermatologist if treatment is not working.12

When to get medical help

See a GP if you have recurring or persistent redness, bumps, or symptoms that could be rosacea. A dermatologist can help distinguish rosacea from acne and other lookalike conditions and choose care that fits the cause.13

Get urgent medical help for eye pain, a red eye, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or a gritty feeling in the eye. These can be signs of keratitis, which can become serious without urgent treatment.1