Those who experience frequent facial redness should talk to a dermatologist to see if the problem is caused by simple facial flushing, rosacea or a more serious illness such as lupus or Cushing's syndrome. Your doctor can help you choose the proper treatment plan for your chronic facial redness.
Medications
Consider seeing a dermatologist to determine if your facial redness is caused by rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that makes the skin on your face red and causes bumps and pustules, according to the Mayo Clinic. A dermatologist can prescribe topical treatments that reduce redness caused by rosacea. Ask your doctor to recommend a prescription strength cream as your first form of defense against facial redness caused by rosacea. Some doctors recommend taking oral antibiotics to lessen rosacea-induced inflammation. For severe cases of rosacea, a dermatologist may prescribe Accutane--a prescription medication that is often used to treat acne. Accutane can cause serious side effects, so talk to your doctor about other options first.
Prevention
If you suffer from facial redness due to chronic facial flushing, your best form of treatment may be to prevent the flushing. Frequent facial flushing can cause the blood vessels in your face to dilate easily, leading to a reddening of the skin that can last for hours. MotherNature.com suggests finding the cause of your facial flushing and trying to prevent it. Jonathan Wilkin, a professor of medicine at Ohio State University, claims that drinking alcoholic beverages often leads to facial redness. Wilkin also suggests avoiding very hot foods and beverages, which can cause flushing. If you find hot foods and alcohol difficult to avoid, you may be able to combat a flushing spell by sucking on ice chips to cool your body.
Light and Laser Treatments
Persistent cases of facial redness can be helped by treatments using pulsed light and lasers, according to the Center for Laser Surgery. Intense pulsed light is a dermatological treatment that uses pulses of bright light to eliminate redness caused by rosacea and flushing. (See reference 3.) Cosmetic surgeons use pulsed light as well as laser treatments to treat reddened skin. The Center for Laser Surgery claims that a pulsing green light laser is effecting in reducing the appearance of red blood vessels under the skin. Visit a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon to discuss your options if you are interested in using light or laser therapy to reduce your facial redness.
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