Did you exfoliate too much?
When it comes to redness caused by aggressive exfoliation, Dr. Lain says patients will likely experience the color diffusely over most of the face and it will arise after a few days of use and can be accompanied by dryness and scaling. In contrast, the redness caused by an allergic reaction is often associated with swelling and tenderness and occurs within minutes to hours. "The location of this redness corresponds to where the offending product has been applied to the skin."
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Did you get too much sun?
The most important thing is to avoid the sun generally — and especially if you have rosacea, as it's one of the most common triggers. Dr. Mark recommends using a zinc-based sunscreen and to cover-up or help hide redness with green-tinted makeup. "There's a wonderful over-the-counter product called Ana-Cool, $12.95, that's safe to use on the face and helps decrease inflammation and redness. It's hydrocortisone combined with zinc, aloe, vitamin e, and green tea."
What can you do for rosacea?
Finally for redness from rosacea or flushing, Dr. Lain recommends antioxidants and redness relievers. He suggests C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C Serum, $166, for morning use and Resveratrol B E, $153, for nighttime. "In addition, the Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer, $67, can be layered over the C E Ferulic in the morning to act as a second layer of defense against the flushing." Avocado oil is another key ingredient to look for since it calms inflammation rapidly, is well tolerated by most, even those with sensitive skin and works well to soothe. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Color-Correcting Cream, $34, is rich in it as well as in other smoothing ingredients.
For a more aggressive approach there are in-office treatments to reduce redness. Sobel likes PIQO4, a laser treatment that addresses various skin conditions, including pigmentation, scarring, sun damage and uneven skin tone. "Since it doesn't use heat, it's much more suitable for all skin types compared to more intense lasers. The Cutera Excel V is a specific laser to help remove the redness from rosacea and the tiny small spider veins on the face. Many see results after just a few treatments, and there's no downtime." Aside from lasers, Sobel Skin and many other cosmetic dermatology offices offer consultations for various forms of redness, allowing you to receive personalized treatments, which can include OTC remedies, topical prescription medication, oral antibiotics and/or lifestyle changes.
Other methods for redness relief
For inflammation due to exfoliation, consider a bland cleanser twice daily, such as CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, $13.79, or Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Facial Cleanser, $8.29. "A moisturizing lotion should also help protect and repair, like Aveeno Ultra-Calming Nourishing Night Cream, $16.57, or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Facial Moisturizer with SPF, $19.99," says Dr. Lain. "For an allergic reaction, the same cleansers are suitable, but also consider applying hydrocortisone cream 1 percent twice daily after cleansing. Be careful to only use the hydrocortisone for 3-5 days; if the redness persists, stop using the hydrocortisone and seek advice from a dermatologist."
