It is common for our face to turn red when we feel embarrassed or very hot, as the blood vessels in our face dilate and quickly fill with blood. However, when the redness affects our daily life, that is, it burns or itches, it may be a sign of some disease.
“Facial redness can occur due to many situations, one of them being the vascular response to dilating blood vessels or substances that stimulate blood vessel activation, and also due to inflammation,” explains dermatologist Maureen Barahona. She adds that facial redness or blushing is a natural response to the stimulus of joy, anxiety, or heat; just as it is reduced by cold.
The red color on the body is most noticeable in areas where blood vessels are closest to the skin, such as the cheeks or chest. In addition, flushed skin may feel hot to the touch or even burn a little. This is natural, as it is the body’s response to a stimulus.
A person can blush easily and that is not a disease. To understand when redness is normal, we must analyze whether it affects our routine, for example, if it causes discomfort such as burning, itching, or inflammation. It may even cause pimples or other skin conditions to appear.
Among the most common diseases that cause the face to turn red are acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and perioral dermatitis.
Acne
Acne is one of the main causes of facial redness. It is characterized by being an inflammatory condition in which a greater amount of fat, bacteria, and keratinization or skin formation in the hair pore are generated.
This inflammation is what causes the redness of the face, but it also causes comedones, blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples to appear.
Acne can be seen in babies, because mothers transfer hormones to the child via the uterus, also in adolescence, but its appearance decreases from the age of 25; then it returns at 30-3 years, especially when it is related to other pathologies.
Acne can be prevented by avoiding triggers such as greasy foods, dairy products, sun exposure, and the use of certain vitamins; it is best to consult a doctor to begin treatment.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes facial redness and is similar to acne. However, it does not produce more oil or bacteria, but rather mites and inflammation predominate.
In this disease, endothelial growth occurs, which stimulates the formation of blood vessels and a degradation of collagen in the elastic tissue. Therefore, it is not just a simple redness, but also greater sensitivity and permeability of the skin because the fats produced are inflammatory, says Barahona. This makes people vulnerable to irritation from dust, perfumes, creams, or makeup.
Dermatologist Gustavo Ortiz adds that the symptoms of rosacea, in addition to facial redness, are a burning sensation in the affected area and pimples on the face that look like acne. In addition, some people tend to have dry, irritated, and swollen eyes and eyelids.
It can be prevented by reducing the consumption of highly seasoned foods, chili, and coffee, avoiding very hot showers or steam baths, and alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer.
Seborrheic dermatitis
This disease is caused by a fungus that lives naturally on the skin, but exposure to the sun, heat, and stress exacerbates it and causes redness and peeling of the skin.
Seborrheic dermatitis affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest, as well as the scalp. The most common symptoms are peeling skin, rash, itching, and greasy patches of skin. It can be seen in infants, teenagers, and adults.
This type of dermatitis is caused by stress, heat, and humidity.
Perioral dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis can appear as redness, scaling, or pimples around the mouth. It is related to bacteria that live naturally in this part of the body and what they do is cause greater sensitivity, especially to toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
To prevent it, it is ideal to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth, or one that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate. In addition, the use of a mask could increase its appearance.