Smiling woman in a sleeveless white top posing with one hand on her hip against a blue background

How to reduce
Facial Redness

Everything you need to know about facial redness – the causes, concerns and the many ways to get rid of persistent red blotches on your face – featuring expert advice from Dr Andre Mahns.

Read Time

8 min

In short:

How to Reduce Facial Redness
What are the Red Blotches on my Face?
Why is my Face Red?
Facial Flushing
Treating Facial Redness
How to Cure Redness on Your Face Overnight with the right ingredients
Products to Help with Facial Redness
How to Get Rid of Redness on Your Face: Home Remedies
Understanding your Skin

How to reduce
Facial Redness

Facial redness is often a cause for concern for many people. Irritating red blotches on your face can become persistent and even painful depending on how severe they are. But what causes facial redness and how can you reduce redness on your face?

Read on to discover answers to your questions on this topic, including the main causes of a red face and the many effective ways you can treat it.

What are
the red blotches on my face?

The red blotches on your face, known as facial redness, can show up as flushed skin on your cheeks, thickened and uneven skin around your nose, or small visible blood vessels across your face.

The way facial redness looks can differ depending on the cause, and it can be linked to an abnormality within the veins in your face (such as dilated facial blood vessels). You might notice short-term facial redness through emotional responses such as blushing, while more intense forms of facial redness can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

What causes a red face

Why is my face
RED?

Facial redness can be caused by a variety of things, including medical issues and emotional responses. Red blotches on your face may appear because of sun exposure, allergic reactions, acne breakouts or even sudden changes in temperature.

If your face has been constantly feeling irritated and you want to ease the discomfort, understanding what is causing your facial redness is really important. Facial redness can be triggered by the following:

1
Over-exfoliation:
Exfoliation can help remove dirt and pollutants from your skin, but exfoliating too often can damage your skin’s protective barrier, which often leads to facial redness and a feeling of tightness. Over-exfoliation strips your skin of its natural oils, so it’s important to give your skin a chance to recover between exfoliating sessions.

2
Alcohol flush reactions:
Facial redness can appear when some people drink alcohol. This is a sign of alcohol intolerance and is caused by differences in our genes. Some people get it, and some won't.

3
Sun overexposure:
Sunscreen is important! Going out in the sun without protecting your skin can cause signs of facial redness both in the short and long term. It’s better to protect your skin from further damage by applying sunscreen to prevent sun overexposure rather than trying to reverse it later.

4
Spider veins:
Spider veins can appear when you don’t protect your skin from the sun. As you get older, sun damage to your skin builds up, which can cause red veins to show around your nose.

5
Warmth:
When your body overheats, your skin can turn red as blood moves closer to the surface of your skin to help cool you down.

6
Allergic reactions:
Allergic reactions on your skin can be triggered by lots of different substances or specific skincare ingredients you might be sensitive to. If irritation from red rashes or hives keeps appearing on your skin, it’s best to seek professional help.

7
Eczema:
This may show up as red, white or purple bumps depending on your skin tone. Eczema is a medical condition that makes skin itchy, dry and cracked, and it can be caused by allergic reactions as well as genetics.

8
Acne breakouts:
Inflammation from acne breakouts may be one of the reasons your face feels irritatingly red. When excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells penetrate your skin, this can cause redness and swelling. You might notice small red bumps appearing on your face. The good news is there are many ways to combat acne breakouts.

9
Facial flushing:
Facial flushing happens when your blood vessels dilate and your face temporarily turns red. Compared to everyday blushing, facial flushing is much more intense and is often triggered by emotional stressors such as anxiety or embarrassment. It can also be caused by medical conditions, including a high fever or rosacea. If you’re worried about facial flushing, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor for advice.

What causes a red face

Facial
FLUSHING

Skin flushing happens when blood flow to your skin increases, and it can be triggered by a variety of skin conditions. A common skin condition that causes facial flushing is rosacea. The exact cause of rosacea isn’t known, but there are a number of factors which suggest that rosacea in humans may be linked to an overactive immune system, abnormalities in blood vessels, or hereditary causes.

Common triggers that can cause rosacea flare-ups include:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Stress
Intense exercise
Too much sunlight / heat
Spicy food
Cold weather
Humidity
Dairy
Medications

If you’ve noticed facial flushing and persistent facial redness after any of these common triggers, you may be experiencing rosacea. Other signs to look out for include dry or sensitive skin and facial swelling.

If you consistently take good care of your skin, you can often ease these symptoms and refresh your facial complexion. If you’re concerned about rosacea, make sure you see a doctor.

Smiling woman in a striped swimsuit looking over her shoulder against a clear blue sky

Treating
FACIAL REDNESS

Make-up is designed to cover up imperfections on your face, but it only offers a temporary way of reducing signs of facial redness. The best way to treat facial redness is to limit how often it appears by taking proper care of your health and your skin. You can do this through a number of lifestyle changes, including:

1. Exercise:

Exercise is essential for your wellbeing and for managing stress, but it can cause short-term facial redness. If you’re worried about a flushed face, you can try changing the way you work out – for example, by shortening your sessions or exercising in a cooler environment.

2. Applying sunscreen:

As you get older, sun damage can gradually make your face look redder. This is because the sun can permanently stretch small blood vessels which, over time, leaves your skin with a reddish appearance. So start applying sunscreen whenever you leave the house. Discover NIVEA’s range of suncare products, ideal for helping to reduce facial redness.

3. Relaxation:

Stress can affect your complexion, so try to take some time to relax. Simple techniques like deep breathing, meditation or even something as easy as smiling can help reduce unwanted levels of facial redness.

4. Diet:

There are lots of foods and drinks that can contribute to facial redness. Foods containing histamine (such as tomatoes, chocolate and nuts) can cause your blood vessels to dilate, which can trigger rosacea. A high-sugar diet can also affect your hormones, which in turn can make acne and facial redness worse.

5. Avoiding scented beauty products:

Facial redness is often linked with sensitive skin, and it could be that your skin is reacting to scented products. Try avoiding fragranced products for a while and see if you notice any improvement in your complexion.

6. Cool baths:

A cool bath can help calm down red rashes, especially when your facial redness is linked to heat or rosacea.

However, if you know your facial redness is linked to a skin condition, or it has been irritating you for a long time, NIVEA recommends that you visit your local dermatologist.

Treating facial redness

How to cure redness on your face overnight
with the right ingredients

Another effective way to help ease facial redness overnight is to use skincare products with the right ingredients. Three ingredients that are commonly found in skincare and are highly recommended for treating facial redness are Aloe Vera, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid.

Cut aloe vera leaf segments and two white cream droplets arranged on a light blue background

Aloe vera:
Aloe Vera is an ingredient that can reduce signs of facial redness thanks to its antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera can be used to soothe sunburn and support wound healing, and it’s extremely effective at targeting skin conditions including eczema, rosacea and acne breakouts. The NIVEA Naturally Good Radiance Day Cream, enriched with organic Aloe Vera, is a great choice if you want to improve your complexion by reducing red blotches on your face while keeping your skin moisturised.

Salicylic acid:
Salicylic Acid is mostly found in skincare products formulated to reduce blemishes. Known as an excellent chemical exfoliating ingredient, Salicylic Acid can help remove dead skin cells from your face. This keeps your skin fresh and lowers the chances of acne breakouts, making it an ideal ingredient for reducing facial redness.

Glycolic acid:
Glycolic Acid is a fruit acid that can visibly improve your skin’s appearance by helping to remove dead skin cells. This helps you maintain healthy skin and ensures that excess oil or pollutants don’t penetrate too deeply, which are some of the root causes of facial redness.

A word from our expert:

"Some other active ingredients known to soothe the skin, with anti-inflammatory properties and barrier-strengthening effects, are Vitamin E, Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and Bakuchiol."

- Dr Andre Mahns, Head of Global Development. With a doctorate in biology and over 15 years of experience in skin research at Beiersdorf, Dr Mahns has in-depth scientific knowledge of skincare and cosmetic ingredients.

Treating facial redness

Products to help with facial redness -
Derma Skin Clear

If acne breakouts are a major cause of facial redness for you, have a look at the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range. This range combines both Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid with other beneficial ingredients to create products that help combat blemishes and reduce facial redness. All products are mildly formulated and have been clinically tested, with NIVEA studies showing a 93% visibly clearer complexion within seven days.

Explore NIVEA Derma Skin Clear

Woman holding a green tube of NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Night Exfoliator with 8% salicylic and glycolic acids plus niacinamide

Treating facial redness

How to get rid of redness on your face:
home remedies

If you're looking for home remedies to help ease facial redness, you can try making your own face masks using ingredients like Aloe Vera and cucumber extract. By blending cucumber with some oatmeal, you can create your own cooling mask, which is often very effective at toning down redness. Placing cucumber slices on red areas can also help to cool and reduce redness.

Clay masks can also be very helpful when you want to calm irritation from facial redness – and they’re simple to make. Try mixing water with facial clay to create a thick paste, then spread it across your face for around 20 minutes before rinsing it off. If your redness is caused by sunburn, mix some Aloe Vera with white vinegar and cider vinegar to help reduce the sting.

Other ingredients that can help tone down facial redness include:

Honey
Chamomile tea bags
Lavender oil
Coconut oil
Yoghurt

Home remedies can help ease symptoms of facial redness, but whenever possible, following a dedicated skincare routine is still the best option.

Understanding
your skin

It’s important to understand the root causes of facial redness on your face. Some concerns can be targeted with much simpler treatment steps, such as applying sunscreen more consistently or choosing skincare products that help combat facial redness. However, it’s also important to remember that if you’re ever in doubt, you should always seek medical advice.