Beauty News

Red skin relief

once upon a time I didn’t have a lot of red in my skin but, as I’ve aged, I’ve noticed it creeping in more and more. I must say, I hate it. It’s unattractive and difficult to conceal with makeup. So I’ve been on a mission to find out what causes the problem and to discover products and treatments that can help calm the redness.

Skin redness – the causes and latest treatments

**Why so red?

**Some people are just particularly prone to red skin. It can also be a reaction to pollution, harsh weather or cosmetics and often tends to worsen as we age.

**Serious redness

**Rosacea is the term for the persistent red rash that affects some women. It tends to flare up on the cheeks, nose and forehead. over time, the redness becomes ruddier and broken blood vessels can appear.

Fair-skinned people are more likely to develop rosacea. It can be made worse by the effects of sun and wind, stress, spicy foods, alcohol and harsh skincare products. If you’re a sufferer, it’s worth seeing a dermatologist. Treatments with lasers and pulsed-light sources are often recommended.

**Reducing redness

**Photo rejuvenation, or laser skin rejuvenation as it’s also called, is the fastest, most effective way of treating redness. But it doesn’t come cheap! Prices vary depending on the condition of the skin but it costs about $500 to treat the whole face and a series of up to four treatments may be needed for best results.

The treatment uses a non-invasive pulsed light system that sends high-energy light through the skin surface, targeting underlying tissue and surface blood vessels. As well as fading redness, it reduces pigmentation, age spots and fine lines and improves skin texture.

Afterwards, skin will be more sensitive to the sun so it’s especially important to use high-factor protection. Beauty therapists like Caci oedispa offer this treatment.

Six rules for red skin

  1. Always use mild cleansers and scrubs that don’t irritate the skin.
  1. Always choose a yellow-toned foundation and spot cover any especially red areas with a concealer. Finish with a light dusting of bronzing powder over the face. The brown tones will help counteract the redness.
  1. Always use sunscreen.
  1. Skip any products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids.
  1. Always use lukewarm water when washing your face and try to avoid cleansing in the shower.
  1. Avoid facial steaming and, if you go for a facial, choose a soothing, replenishing one.

**The natural way

**Honey-based products can be wonderful for sensitive, inflamed skin because active manuka honey is a proven natural healer. You have to be really careful with essential oils if you have sensitive skin but three that can help are chamomile, neroli and rose. Dilute them in a carrier oil like sweet almond before applying.

Look for products containing calendula, rosehip oil, vitamin E and vitamin C as all are anti-inflammatory. In The Healthy Skin Diet ($44.99, Exisle), Karen Fischer advises avoiding chocolate, cheese, oranges, spicy food and alcohol to limit skin reactions and doing lots of exercise to boost circulation.

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