How To Reduce Redness On The Face

Because the face contains many blood vessels, as well as thin skin, it is more prone to redness than many other parts of the body. This can be especially aggravating for cosmetic reasons. One cause of facial redness is rosacea, which is an inflammation of the skin that can cause redness in the face. Face redness will generally get worse over time.

Step 1

Protect your skin. The best way to do this is to use moisturizers and sunscreen on your face. Moisturizers should be applied several times a day, and sunscreen should be applied on a regular basis, especially during the summer. This will prevent further damage, which will exacerbate the redness.

Step 2

Administer topical treatments. These include tretinoin (also known as Retin-a), metronidazole (a topical antibiotic), azelaic acid and benozyl peroxide. These medications can help reduce inflammation and the redness that it causes. Follow the directions on these medications (available over the counter) to know how often to apply them.

Step 3

Take antibiotics orally. Facial redness can often be caused by bacteria. If your problem isn't responding to other treatments, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, such as tetracycline and erythromycin. Aside from killing bacteria, these medications also help relax the immune system, reducing inflammation.

Step 4

Use Accutane. Accutane is a powerful medication that is only available by prescription and may be indicated, if the above treatments do not work. Accutane, which is normally used for cystic acne, stops the sebaceous glands in the face from producing oil.

Step 5

Consider more invasive methods. These methods include surgery and laser therapy and can be used to remove enlarged blood vessels and other inflamed tissue that causes redness on the face.