What Causes Redness in the Face?

Redness in the face can look different depending on the cause. Symptoms of face redness, and symptoms that can accompany face redness, may include: 

• Flushed skin on the cheeks
• A tendency to blush easily
• Fine red vascular lines on the face
• Red spots on the face
• Facial redness
• Small red pimples
• Red rash
• Painful blemishes on the face
• Sensitivity to touch
• Itchy patches 
• Cracks on skin
• Dry, scaly patches
• An enlarged red nose with bulbous qualities
• Eye problems, which may include red, swollen eyelids, conjunctivitis, and corneal inflammation

See a doctor if you have facial redness and:

• Redness continues for extended periods of time
• Burning and irritation around the eyes
• A flare-up of a chronic condition

Some home remedies to help ease face redness include: 

• Makeup
  • Foundation and concealer can help reduce the look of redness 
• Soothing masks
  • Face masks with soothing ingredients such as chamomile, aloe, and cucumber can help reduce redness and inflammation
• Change products
  • If redness on the face is a new occurrence, it might be due to a new product you are using on your skin
  • If you think this may be the cause, stop using all products and switch to gentle products to see if that helps

Other treatment for redness in the face depends on the cause.

• Seborrheic dermatitis treatment 
  • Often involves long-term management 
  • Rest and exercise to help to stress, which can reduce the incidence of flare-ups
  • Wash daily with gentle cleanser
  • Use medicated shampoos and sulfur products to control the condition
  • Topical corticosteroids (for short-term use only) for itching and redness
  • Topical antifungals also for itching and redness
  • Calcineurin inhibitors, sulfur or sulfonamide combinations, or propylene glycol
  • For acute flares, corticosteroid creams, lotions, or solutions
  • For severe or unresponsive lesions, systemic fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Allergic reaction or skin irritation treatment 
  • Avoid the allergens or irritants when possible 
  • Take allergy medication as prescribed 
  • Antihistamines can help with hives and itching
  • Corticosteroid creams or ointments can help relieve rash and itching
  • Keep an epinephrine auto-injector on you at all times if you have a severe allergy
• Rosacea treatment 
  • There is no cure for rosacea 
  • Avoid known triggers that worsen symptoms
  • Use cosmetics that have sun protection factor (SPF) and wear sunscreen daily
  • Use mild, unscented face cleansers 
  • Avoid using products on the face that contain on alcohol, acid, or other ingredients that could irritate skin 
  • Treatments used to treat skin redness of rosacea include: 
    • Laser or other light-based treatment
    • Brimonidine gel and oxymetazoline hydrochloride cream
• Acne treatment 
  • Daily skin care regimen using gentle products
  • Avoid abrasive cleansers and cosmetics
  • Avoid harsh scrubbing 
  • Don’t pick, squeeze, or pop pimples
  • Avoid the sun and tanning beds
  • Regularly wash all items that touch acne-prone skin, such as pillowcases and hats
  • Medications to get rid of acne include: 
    • Topical (on the skin) medications 
    • Benzoyl peroxide to decrease bacteria
    • Salicylic acid, to ease inflammation and unclog pores
    • Retinoids, such as adapalene gel, to unclog pores and reduce oily skin
    • Azelaic acid 
    • Benzoyl peroxide plus a retinoid or a topical antibiotic
    • Women may be prescribed a birth control pill or patch approved to treat acne
• Other treatments for more severe cases of acne include: 
  • Laser or light therapy
  • Corticosteroid injections
• Eczema treatment 
  • Home remedies include:
    • Lukewarm baths
    • Applying moisturizer regularly
    • Wearing breathable fabrics
    • Patting skin dry instead of rubbing
    • Avoiding triggers
• Medications used to treat eczema includes
  • Topical steroid creams or ointments 
  • Oral antihistamines for itching
  • Tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel)
  • Oral steroids for short periods to treat severe flares
  • Injectable “biologics” 
  • Immunosuppressive drugs for patients with severe eczema 
  • Ultraviolet light therapy (phototherapy)
• Psoriasis treatment 
  • There is no cure for psoriasis, but treatments can help relieve symptoms 
  • Topical treatments, such as creams and ointments
  • Phototherapy (light therapy)
  • Oral and injected medication
    • Biologics and biosimilars
    • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) 
    • Other oral systemics
  • To prevent flare-ups, avoid cold weather, moisturize skin regularly, reduce stress, and use a humidifier
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Shingles treatment 
  • There is a vaccine available to prevent shingles
  • Antiviral medication can save eyesight and prevent long-term nerve pain
  • Pain medications
  • Antibiotics, if the rash becomes infected
  • Wet compresses
  • Calamine lotion
  • Colloidal oatmeal baths 
• Reaction to a medication treatment
  • Talk to your doctor before taking any new medication to see if you should stay out of the sun
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats to limit sun exposure
  • Use a broad sunscreen regularly and as directed
• Spider veins treatment
  • Sclerotherapy, in which chemicals are injected into the affected vein causing it to collapse
  • Laser treatment
• Lupus treatment 
  • Anti-inflammatories and steroids 
  • Antimalarials (to help protect skin from rashes and UV light)
  • Biologics 
  • Immunosuppressives 
  • Anticoagulants 
  • Sun protection 
• Rare cancer (Sézary syndrome)
  • Photodynamic therapy 
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy 
  • Other drug therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • High-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy with stem cell transplant