Face goes red when washed

But a few months ago something changed. It got all red and blotchy and even broke out in a tiny constellation of hives. Not the metaphorical kind of hives I get when someone finishes a roll of toilet paper without replacing it. Literal hives. I thought it was just a weird fluke, but it kept happening pretty frequently. I tried switching up my face wash. I even tried using Brita-filtered water.

Nothing helped. My pores were peeved. I was confused. Going forward, I resolved to skip my a. I still washed my face at night with a very gentle cleanser my current favorite is First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser for makeup-removal purposes, but mornings became a strictly water-only affair. Listed below are some common causes of flushing. Cushing syndrome is a result of high levels of cortisol in the body. A niacin vitamin B-3 overdose can cause redness. This happens when you take too much over-the-counter niacin medication to lower your cholesterol.

Other medications that can cause flushing include:. Consuming spicy foods, such as peppers or products derived from the Capsicum pepper genus of plants, can cause sudden redness in the face or neck. These include cayenne pepper, paprika, chili peppers , and red peppers. Eating these foods may raise your body temperature, increasing blood flow and causing facial redness.

Handling these types of foods can also cause skin redness and irritation. Extreme emotions can trigger redness in the face or red face. For example, if you become deeply embarrassed or anxious, your face or neck may appear splotchy. Experiencing feelings of extreme anger, stress, or sadness may also cause skin flushing. Crying can often cause red blotches on the face and neck. All of these emotions can also coincide with an acute increase in blood pressure.

Still, high blood pressure itself is not a cause of flushing, according to the American Heart Association. Rosacea is a skin condition that may produce swelling, redness, and acne-like sores. While the cause of rosacea is unknown, inflammation of the blood vessels from stress, spicy foods, and hot temperatures may worsen the condition. Fair-skinned females between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most susceptible. Fifth disease is caused by a virus and can result in a red rash on the cheeks, arms, and legs.

A red rash from fifth disease is more likely to appear in children than adults. It may mean that you have an underlying medical condition causing this sudden redness. Home health options include avoiding specific triggers, such as spicy foods, hot beverages, toxins, bright sunlight, and extreme cold or heat. Removing yourself from high-stress situations may also help prevent flushing.

Flushing does not commonly result in serious medical problems. However, in some instances, a serious condition can be the underlying cause of flushing. Also, pinpointing your triggers can help prevent bouts of flushing. There is no definitive method for preventing flushing.

However, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of these episodes:. Helpful coping skills include relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral skills. Also, hypnosis may be effective in treating some emotional issues that produce flushing.

In many cases, occasional flushing is more of a hassle than a medical concern. All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

And last year, when I experienced what turned out to be an eczema flare-up , even the dermatologist I visited had to walk me through a very long series of questions before determining exactly what I was experiencing.

From there, though, it gets a lot more complicated. So to help anyone else spiraling down an endless search frenzy about how to get rid of redness on your face, I polled top derms to share their best tips for identifying, soothing, and treating any kind of flare-up, from overexfoliation to seborrheic dermatitis. Rosacea is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you try to self-diagnose facial redness. It also varies in appearance. I previously thought it showed up as a persistent flush under your skin, but it can manifest in multiple forms.

Jessica Weiser, M. As far as treatment goes, there are two things to know. Second, what you do depends on how mild or extreme your specific case is. There are topical options that constrict blood vessels and calm inflammation, like Rhofade , which Dendy Engelman, M.

In more severe cases, Weiser says, you may need to consider low-dose antibiotics or laser treatments. In any case, expect to wait a minimum of four to six weeks to see noticeable improvement.

The final thing you want to do is keep your skin barrier in good shape. Zeichner suggests gentle cleansers, soothing moisturizers , and total avoidance of exfoliating ingredients both chemical and physical. Courtesy of brand. Ah, eczema , the brooding mystery of skin conditions.

This one can be surprisingly tough to diagnose, as I found out firsthand when I got my flare-up. If you think you have it, exit your nearest search engine and leave things to a professional.