Cheeks that have scarring, damage and redness can be embarrassing. While you may be able to cover up your damaged skin with makeup, understanding the cause of your damaged skin may give you greater insight on how to properly care for the damage and prevent further damage from occurring. From acne scars to sun damage, each type of skin damage should be treated separately for the best possible results.
Symptoms
Damaged cheeks can manifest in a variety of ways. From deep pock marks to reddened skin and brown spots, the symptoms that you see will vary depending on the reason for the damage. Since your cheeks are such a large and prominent feature on your face, the damage is typically fairly easy to see and sometimes difficult to cover or treat.
Causes
A variety of causes can contribute to damaged skin on the cheeks. It may be caused by simple sun damage, which can manifest as dark spots on the cheeks. Broken capillaries may be the cause of isolated red spots scattered across the cheeks. A deep flush on the skin may be rosacea, a condition which is caused by inflammation of the skin on the nose, cheeks, forehead and eyelids, notes Medline Plus. Deep marks are usually the result of acne scars and other skin trauma.
Prevention
One of the easiest way to prevent damage from occurring on your skin involves protecting your cheeks from the sun. The sun can damage the skin, causing spots, fine lines and wrinkles. Make sunscreen a part of your daily skin care routine to ensure that your skin is protected, no matter the weather. If your damaged cheeks are the result of rosacea, avoid triggers like heat and stressful situations to keep redness at bay. Always avoid picking at your cheeks, which can lead to deep scarring.
Treatment
If you already have damaged cheeks, your dermatologist may be able to help you reveal healthier skin. Laser resurfacing is used to remove the first layer of dead skin in order to speed cell turnover, and it's an ideal treatment for minor flaws like sun damage and acne marks, notes MayoClinic.com. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, both of which use abrasive ingredients to remove the top layer of skin to reveal healthier skin below, are used to help diminish scarring and damaged skin. Facial treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion should only be done with the supervision of your dermatologist.
Makeup
When you don't have the time or resources to receive dermatological treatments from your doctor, makeup can be an effective way to hide damage. Using corrective coloring can help camouflage redness, so try using a minty green concealer to help cancel out your skin's redness. Look for a non-comedogenic foundation, which means that the makeup is made with ingredients that won't clog pores or cause further skin problems.
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