In this article I will be focusing on skin that is prone to redness/flushing/blushing.

This skin type is called permanent diffuse redness type (ref: Florence Barrett Hill, Advanced Skin Analysis) and is probably what you know as ‘sensitive’ skin but it does not necessarily react to products.

I call this skin reactive or sensitised. It is not the same as rosacea but someone with this skin type may go on to develop rosacea.

The main characteristic of this skin type is that there will be permanent patches of redness or blotchiness. This is caused by over sensitive blood vessels responding to stimuli more than is normal. Over time, these little capillaries stop shrinking back to the normal size and they can be seen through the skin all the time. This is the redness that you see, sometimes accompanied by little broken capillaries. Often in this skin type, the skin itself is thin and this contributes to the problem.

There are many triggers that can cause the skin to flush but the most common are alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, extremes of temperature.

  • When choosing skincare always go for products that are completely fragrance and artificial colour-free.
  • Any potential irritants can set up a reaction deep in your skin that will show over time as increased redness, even if they feel just fine on application, so it is very important to be as gentle as possible in dealing with this skin type and always err on the side of caution.
  • I don’t advise the use of granular type or AHA exfoliators with this skin type.
  • If you feel that you must exfoliate then the best option is a gentle enzyme exfoliator.
  • Avoid also clay based masks or any type that dry on the face and thick, rich moisturisers.

Some good ingredients to check for in your products are liquorice, niacinamide, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, green tea, hyaluronic acid, aloe.

The best ingredient to look out for is EGF – epidermal growth factor – this will do exactly what it says on the tin and help to thicken the epidermis, so that the structure is strengthened and the capillaries will be less visible. 

Find it in Hydra Collagen Serum available here.

When it comes to treatments there are lots of options to help calm redness-prone skin. Anti-inflammatory ingredients and techniques can be used across many of our facials and holistic treatments, why not give us a call to discuss your needs?

For visible red veins on the face we can do a simple diathermy treatment (see here) to reduce them very quickly.

Do you have any questions on redness-prone skin? Give us a call, we will be happy to advise you on the best course of action for you.