Redness & Irritation
RED & IRRITATED SKIN
Redness is one of the most common skin concerns, but it can be surprisingly finicky to treat. "Redness" itself isn't really a skin condition, rather it's a symptom and the causes can be multifactorial.
Whether due to irritation, genetics, or an actual condition like rosacea figuring out the underlying cause it in step one. So read on for our deep dive into the three most common causes.
IRRITATION FROM A COMPROMISED BARRIER
Skin irritation is probably the most common cause of redness. This usually happens when the skin barrier is compromised either from environmental factors or overdoing something in your routine.
ROSACEA
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes persistent redness. It can look like an ongoing flush or sunburn that won't go away, here are some other signs to look for:
One of the difficulties in treating rosacea is that it's often mistaken for other conditions. It can look like acne-like bumps or breakouts (but they are resistant to common acne treatments), burning or sensitive skin (see compromised barrier section above), or even small visible blood vessels close to the surface. However, rosacea is usually situated around the center of your face: cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. It's always best to see a licensed dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.**
Treating rosacea with harsh actives can make it worse, so once again a simple and calming routine is your best bet. Mild cases may respond to over-the-counter ingredients like azelaic acid or hypochlorous acid, while more severe cases require prescription treatment.
**Rosacea is under-diagnosed and underreported in skin of colour and part of that is because it's harder to identify on non-white skin. Here is an excellent guide from the National Rosacea Society on rosacea in skin of color.
GENETIC FACTORS
Much like aging, there is a huge genetic factor in skin redness. Some people have won the genetic lotter while others just seem to be more prone to flushing or naturally have pinkish undertones in their skin.
While this isn't isn’t something you can “treat" (at least until gene editing for skincare becomes a thing) identifying triggers like alcohol, spicy food, or dairy to name a few , can help you manage flare-ups. A consistent routine focused on calming and hydrating ingredients (take a drink every time we repeat this line) is your best line of defense. Speaking of calming ingredients, our sheet mask LE FIX is currently 20% off, just saying....
