Apart from the quick flush of the cheeks due to an embarrassing moment, the cause of redness in the face may be difficult to pinpoint and may depend on a myriad of factors. Does the redness come and go or is it constant? Does it appear suddenly or gradually? Are the red patches raised or flat?

Here are four common causes of redness in the face and tips to help tone it down:

1. Rosacea: A chronic and progressive skin condition which often presents itself as flushing of the skin, redness, bumps, pimples and tiny visible blood vessels on the face. Symptoms tend to appear in a cyclic fashion, characterized by flare-ups and remissions with no fixed pattern of occurrence. One of the keys to controlling rosacea is to identify and avoid triggers that may lead to flare-ups. The benefits of a gentle skin-care routine cannot be underestimated. Look for soap- and fragrance-free cleansers as well as creams like [Link Removed] that reduce the appearance of redness and skin imperfections to restore a more uniform and healthy-looking skin.

2. Sensitive Skin: Itchy, irritated skin from topical treatments, cleansers, lotions or even a cold wind may indicate that you have sensitive skin. And contrary to popular belief, even those with normal, oily or combination skin can suffer from skin sensitivity. Although sufferers from sensitive skin have a tendency to lose moisture, it is by no means limited to those with dry skin. If your face turns red from everyday skin care products, stick with gentle cleansers and moisturizers that are fragrance free and contain a minimum number of ingredients. [Link Removed] is gentle enough for sensitive skin and improves skin barrier function to help protect against environmental irritants.

3. Sun damage: Unprotected exposure to the sun and severe sunburn in the past may also contribute to redness in the face. Small red freckles may indicate sun damage. It's never too late to make sunscreen a priority in your daily routine. [Link Removed] . With a wide range of formulations, there's one to suit virtually every skin type.

4. Aging: Over time, loss of collagen and elastin as well as a slower skin cell turnover causes the skin to thin and make blood vessels appear more visible. This can also contribute to an overall redness in the face. To help boost collagen production and thus thicken the skin, choose a gentle retinoid product, like [Link Removed] , a serum which incorporates stabilized retinaldehyde, the ultimate retinoid and least irritating version of Vitamin A to skin.

Red in the face? Not anymore. Unless it's from all the admiring looks.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti-aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed].
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