Do you know anyone who blushes easily? Does this happen only when that person is embarrassed or stressed, or does it seem like an almost permanent flush on his skin? If it is the latter, do that person a favor and ask if he has heard of rosacea.

Rosacea: Not a Simple Blush

Rosacea is a common skin disorder, but it has to be distinguished from the typical frequent blushing. People who tend to blush easily need not assume the worst, but it will certainly be to their advantage if they keep an eye out for signs of rosacea. It develops gradually, and most patients are diagnosed when they hit 30.

A normal blush occurs when a person is under physical or emotional stress. The redness goes once the occasion passes. Rosacea, on the other hand, is a more permanent redness on the face (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin) and crawls to the neck, ears and chest. When the person flushes, the redness deepens and stays on for long minutes. Severe cases of rosacea results in blood vessels becoming visible on the face (erythema), bloodshot eyes, stubborn acne and facial deformity, the most common of which is having a reddish and bulbous nose.

There is no known cure yet for rosacea. People inflicted with this disease can only adjust their lifestyle and treat the symptoms to ease their situation.

Recommended Treatments

Before you can do treatment for redness on your face, you need to first identify the cause. If it’s not rosacea then there could be simpler, non-medicinal ways to treat it.

For Skin Irritation and Other Non-Rosacea Related Causes:

1. If your face started smarting or getting red soon after you started using a new facial care product, you might be incompatible with it. Discontinue use and observe if your skin will return to normal.

2. If you accidentally ate food that you’re allergic to, take one antihistamine tablet (only if you’re not allergic to generic antihistamines).

3. Use soft cotton towels to dry your face. Don’t rub the cloth on your skin; simply pat it dry.

4. If redness still persists, and if other symptoms appear (ex: rash, bumps), consult your physician for a proper diagnosis.

5. Consider using DIY face masks like honey and oatmeal (moisturizes the skin and reduces inflammation), cucumber (has a relaxing and soothing effect), and aloe vera (anti-inflammatory). Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards to prevent clogged pores or infection.

6. Avoid being in embarrassing or stressful circumstances. Working on your self-confidence will also reduce your propensity to flush in awkward situations. Be chill and learn to take things in stride so that your blood pressure won’t go up.

7. Heavy eating can also be a cause for flushing. This is referred to as “heavy meal flushing”. This is caused by a stressed digestive system that has to digest large quantities of food. The solution is to take three small meals a day, preferably fiber-rich, and nutritious snacks in-between.

8. Avoid gorging on food rich in simple sugars. This isto prevent hyperglycemia or sugar high, wherein blood vessels become dilated to allow increased blood flow, giving the body a boost of oxygen and energy.

For Rosacea:

1.  As much as possible, don’t expose your skin to the sun. Rosacea patients are especially sensitive to sunlight. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, a cap, or use an umbrella each time you step outside.

2. Avoid facial skin care products with too much chemicals. This is a tricky part of treating rosacea: you need to protect your skin from the harsh sunlight. Typically, you’d apply sunscreen. Unfortunately, rosacea makes the skin prone to irritation due to chemicals found in skin care products. The key is to find mild moisturizers or sunblock that will not inflame your skin.

3. Don’t use too much cosmetics. Aside from the chemicals they possibly contain, fine makeup powder will aggravate existing pimples. Removing them at the end of each day can further irritate your skin since you’ll need to use makeup remover and/or cleanser on top of your regular facial wash.

   Ladies, if you really want to put on full makeup every day,make sure to choose makeup brands that are hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic, and preferably has moisturizing capabilities. Discontinue use at the first sign of irritation.

4. Avoid drinking too much alcohol. It doesn’t only dry out your skin, but it also dilates blood vessels and makes the redness on your face worse.

5. Avoid eating food that trigger flushing, particularly hot beverages (flushing happens when your core temperature increases), spicy food and sour food.

6. Given that emotional and physical stress by nature causes flushing, avoid stressful situations as much as possible. Be mindful of after-work stress, too. Studies show that the fatigue begins to settle at 7:00 – 8:00 in the evening. The sympathetic nervous system is triggered, dilating blood vessels and increasing body temperature. So when evening comes, it would be best if you make sure you are in a relaxing and cool environment.

7. Maintain a regular sleeping schedule. Frequent disruptions in your sleep can cause imbalances in the immune system and PH level. These two are essential for fighting bacteria and preventing inflammation. When imbalances occur, you become more prone to infection and inflammation, which in turn will result to flushing.

8. If your flushing persists over time, consult your dermatologist for medical treatment. They may prescribe antibiotics to be taken orally (ex: tetracycline) or topically (creams or gels, like metronidazole).

9. Avoid fragrances in skincare.  Rosacea is sensitive condition and can easily be aggravated by harsh chemicals in certain fragrances. Avoid products with added   fragrances as this increases the possibility of an allergic reaction.  To avoid this issue focus on fragrance free skincare and cosmetics
10. Avoid skin irritant like alcohol. Alcohol is a common trigger that can aggravate this conditions. It causes the skin to flare up making the redness more pronounced. Which hazel, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus oil are also linked  as  skin irritants.