Why Does My Face Turn Red for No Reason?

You’re minding your own business, reaching for your compact to freshen up, and you notice that your face looks like a cherry tomato. 

You’re left wondering why you’ve suddenly become a human lobster. Well, worry no more. We’re here to help you understand what’s happening and give you some recommendations for dealing with your unwanted red glow.

 

Your facial skin is extremely sensitive, and there is a reason why it’s so red. There are a variety of possibilities to investigate, but you know your skin best. So, once you have all the details, you can be the one to decide how to move forward. 

We’re going to break down the possible reasons for your redness and what you can do to restore your beautiful complexion so that you can plot your course of action.

 

The Usual Suspects

 

You’re probably already aware of the common reasons for your unwelcome red face. Working out will leave you looking pink because your body is sending more blood everywhere that counts, including your brain. Similarly, acne can cause isolated redness on the skin, where you might have accidentally irritated it or scratched it.

 

Overheating in the summer, blushing, getting excited, eating spicy food, drinking alcohol, and sexual arousal (oh my!) can also cause you to become red in the face. However, with full facial redness, your most likely suspect is a sunburn. 

Remember, UV rays from the sun damage sensitive skin quickly (even on a cloudy day), and it doesn’t take direct sunlight for you to wrestle with a sunburn. Most sunburns heal and fade quickly, but the skin damage may not be so easy to get rid of, so protect your face whenever possible.

 

Dry skin is at a higher risk of sunburn, so you should take extra precautions from those deadly UV rays. Vitamin C can act as a natural barrier against those oh-so-dangerous rays. 

It also works even if you were not so careful and already got sunburn, because vitamin C improves the rate of cell regeneration, so your face can replace damaged cells with healthy new ones. Clearly, it’s good to have vitamin C on your side.

The Unusual Suspects 

 

Now, let’s jump to the suspects that don’t come to mind right away. There are other possibilities for why your face is red, especially if the redness comes with other symptoms or isn’t going away on its own. Most of them can be treated, so even if you think you’re suffering from a more unusual condition, don’t panic.

 

• • Seborrheic dermatitis 

 

This is a common skin condition that causes a red rash. Although this rash can be anywhere, it’s usually on the face. It might cause your skin to look oily, dry, and scaly. You can talk to a dermatologist about the right treatment, but seborrheic dermatitis usually just requires a topical ointment.

 

• • Rosacea 

 

This is a skin condition that starts by making you look like you blush more than other people, but if the condition progresses unchecked, you’ll probably notice that the redness or blush lasts much longer than you want or that it never fades at all. 

With time, symptoms can spread to your scalp, neck, ears, back, and upper chest. It also makes your skin more sensitive. Even sunscreen or concealer can make your skin sting or burn.

 

Rosacea can, in some cases, affect your eyes. You may feel irritation or notice that your eyes are bloodshot, dry, or swollen. This can develop before or after the skin redness, so if you notice anything wrong with your eyes, you should immediately seek medical care.

 

Unfortunately, this isn’t a condition that can ever be completely cured. However, a dermatologist can help you figure out if you have it and what variety of rosacea you have to find a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms.

 

• • Contact Dermatitis. 

 

We all know that allergic reactions can come out of nowhere, and sometimes, they can be a serious issue. Contact dermatitis happens when something irritates your skin. The face is a common place for this because certain soaps, lotions, and hair dyes can irritate your skin. Fragrances and latex, as well as ingredients in makeup can cause similar reactions.

 

This reaction can be caused by just about anything, even products you’ve used for years. That makes it challenging to identify what is causing the reaction. If your redness persists, you can talk to your doctor about taking an allergy test. 

Alternatively, a medication can cause a rash if it irritates the skin. Some medications cause this reaction if you spend time in the sun. Luckily, this redness will clear up as soon as you stop exposing your skin to the irritant.

 

• • Eczema 

 

This often begins affecting people as infants as an itchy, red rash. It tends to be dry and scaly. Like rosacea, eczema doesn’t have a cure, but medications and other holistic treatments can help clear up your skin and leave you feeling fabulous again.

 

• • Psoriasis 

 

This skin condition causes your body to make new skin cells much faster than normal. In normal people, skin cells are renewed in weeks, but in people with psoriasis, they are renewed in days. That can cause the dead skin cells to pile up on the skin, which can cause scaly patches. 

You might notice other symptoms such as stiffness or swelling of joints. Like eczema, there is no permanent cure, but there are ways to help clear your skin and lessen your reddish hue.

 

• • Shingles 

 

This is unique among causes of red face listed here in that it is painful. It’s a blistering rash that can be anywhere on your body, and can also appear on your face. 

Medication can help symptoms, but shingles eventually clears up on its own. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you develop shingles on your face because it can impact your eyesight and cause long-term nerve damage.

 

• • Lupus. 

 

This is an autoimmune disease, which means that your body’s immune system gets confused and attacks part of your own body because it thinks they are foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. 

Lupus means that the immune system attacks organs and causes redness and swelling in your face. It’s important to work with your doctors to develop a treatment plan that’s appropriate and safe.

 

• • Sezary syndrome

 

This rare type of cancer starts with white blood cells and shows itself as redness in the face, because many T-cells are found in the skin. This is an exceedingly rare condition, so, no need to panic.

 

If your redness comes with pain or lasts more than two weeks, make an appointment with your doctor to get things checked out and it isn’t a symptom of a more serious condition.

 

What Can You Do? 

 

No one wants a bright red face, so what can you do? Face masks are a great way to combat facial redness and exfoliate your skin to leave you glowing. There are a few different types and prices may vary just as much as the ingredients. You can feel the difference within minutes of using one. 

There are benefits for all types of face masks, but there are some fabulous health benefits that come with a vitamin C facial mask. These masks infuse your skin with nutrients that target specific skin problems.

What does vitamin C do? 

 

• • It’s acidic and helps exfoliate the skin. It removes the dead skin cells from the surface, which leaves you looking smooth and bright. 

 

• • The antioxidants can help reduce dark spots and discoloration and may reduce symptoms of psoriasis. 

 

• • Vitamin C helps hydrate your skin, so it’s awesome for dry and dehydrated skin. 

 

• • It improves your skin’s softness and elasticity to give you a plumper and more youthful look. 

 

• • Vitamin C is a soothing agent that calms red skin to improve your complexion. That makes this kind of face mask wonderful for puffiness around the eyes or cheeks.

 

If a vitamin C mask is just what you need, Gleamin offers an amazing option rich in vitamin C and turmeric. A clay mask is suitable for all skin types; the only thing that differs is how often you use it. 

For people with dry skin, it makes sense to use a hydrating face mask more often, around two to three times a week, whereas with more oily skin, you’d want to use it once or twice a week.

 

Luckily, Gleamin’s mask incorporates a lot more than clay and vitamin C. It contains aloe vera to soothe your skin, especially if you have a sunburn lurking. Turmeric is another great ingredient to improve the appearance of sun damage and give you a radiant glow. Just remember, a face mask is not a replacement for sunscreen, so you shouldn’t skip on your protection.

 

If you’re worried that sunscreen might worsen an ongoing skin condition or cause you to break out, look for sunscreens for sensitive skin. Your dermatologist can recommend brands based on the skin issues you’re dealing with.

 

Remember that some medications make your skin more sensitive to the sunlight, so you should always be aware of your medications and follow your doctor’s instructions.

 

In Summary 

 

Redness can be a symptom of many different conditions. We hope we provided a quick run-down of possible reasons why your facial redness might be more intense than normal. 

If you’re worried about facial redness, talk to a medical professional. 

 

Once you’ve figured out what’s going on with your unwanted redness, a face mask is a great way to supplement your dermatologist prescribed treatment plan and can help decrease redness in the face. It’s an easy way to help you look and feel your best, especially during these uncertain times. 

Because let’s face it, we’re not going out nearly as often these days, so when we do, we want to look great and feel fabulous. So, let’s say goodbye to the redness and hello to clear, glowing skin.

 

Sources

 

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/face/facial-redness

 

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/red-face

 

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/treatment