Red face
Some people just naturally have a reddish face. Of course, if you work in the open air, you may acquire a weathered, red, jolly-farmer face, especially if you are naturally fair-skinned. But a red face can mean that you have a skin disorder, and appropriate treatment should solve the problem. And, rarely, it can mean a more serious disorder such as ‘systemic lupus erythematosus’ that needs to be properly investigated and treated. So do not feel you are wasting your doctor's time by seeking help for a red face.
Questions to ask yourself
Is my face red all the time, or is the problem flushing/blushing? Have a look at the section on blushing and flushing.
Have I been taking steroids? Steroid tablets can cause a red face in some people. If you think this might be the cause in your case, discuss it with your doctor. Do not simply stop the steroids, because this could make you very ill. Strong steroid creams can also make the face red, and can encourage the formation of thread veins that make the skin look redder.
Am I sensitive to something? Think about whether you have changed your cosmetics or perfume recently, or whether a chemical in your workplace could be responsible. Or have you come into contact with something some people are very sensitive to certain plants and flowers. Nickel in spectacle frames can cause redness around the eyes and ears.
Is it related to sunlight (‘photosensitivity’)? This is possible if most of your face is red, but the shaded areas under the nose and chin, and behind the ears are all right, and the redness stops sharply at your collar-line (see below).
Is the redness in a special shape? If the redness is just across your cheeks and nose, in a shape like a butterfly, you need to see your doctor. It could be a disorder called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which your immune system is not behaving properly.
As well as being red, is my skin scaly, itchy, sore or lumpy? Are there blackheads or pustules? Lots of skin disorders can cause reddening of the skin. You might have ordinary acne, rosacea or dermatitis (eczema).
Photosensitivity
Of course ordinary sunburn will cause a red face, but some people find that exposure to sunlight that is not very bright has a similar effect. Photosensitivity may be the cause if the shaded areas under the nose and chin, under a fringe of hair or behind the ears are unaffected, and the redness stops sharply at the collar-line. This can be a difficult problem for your doctor to sort out, because it is often an interaction between a chemical and sunlight. The chemical might be a drug that you are taking amiodarone, thiazide diuretics, chlorpromazine, some fluoroquinolone antibiotics and some tetracycline antibiotics occasionally have this effect. Or the chemical could be in a perfume or a sunscreen.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 12th 2010
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Comments on this article
Posted by Optional on 25/02/2010 at 07:46:22 am
my face goes realy red y im doing exercise and stay really red for hours afta wat could it be
Posted by Nicola on 21/02/2010 at 12:03:35 am
A week of sleepless nights because i'm too hot, feel like i'm burning up inside, but mainly my face - window wide open and a severe frost, ice pack on my face... I've been to the doctors several times and still no answers. Even got hospital appointment to treat for asphyxia - given a machine to test my breathing during the night - but didn't fall asleep that night so hardly a fair test...sometime drop off when body temperature lowers and then wake up suddenly and burning hot. This has been going on for years, tiring and can be depressing. Seems to come in episodes. Seem to be really sensitive to changes in temperature, any central heating is uncomfortable and go bright red, heart rate increases and eyes all blinky, feel nervous. Much prefer being outside where cool on my face. Even if camping as soon as get in tent that little bit of warmth makes me burn up and can't sleep...any ideas????
Posted by ScotBoy on 24/01/2010 at 02:29:00 pm
Ive got red cheeks and im really wanting to get rid of them, nothing seems to be out there to help with this problem, please help!
Posted by anonymous on 15/01/2010 at 09:53:00 pm
please read! I was 17 years old as a junior in highschool when I started noticing tiny spots of redness on my face, it started off on my cheecks then on my eyebrows, I noticed my skin began to lose my natural skin oil and began to dry even the hair on my eyebrows began to fade, the next summer it got even worse, the tiny red spots became larger and it would burn outragousely in sun expousure, I got extremely depressed and I actualy left school because of my problem. I then started to try and cheer my self up and got a doctors appointment hoping to come out of it with the answer in my hands and return to the normal life I had but I didn't happen, the doctor had no idea what the problem was and I noticed I knew way more about it by far than she ever would, even with her "knowledge and succesfull career" I got so angry that I almost charged her for telling her what I was using daily to treat this miserable skin disorder and I almost asked her to give me my money back. So as time went by I began using all kinds of cream from neutragena to Vaseline and it was unsuccesful. Four or five months went by and thanks to this skin problem, my life started to change, beginning with my attitude, I was miserable, depressed, angry, and embarresed always so much that it actualy began to traumatize me to the point I would talk to anyone and never left my room specialy not my house, it went so far that I actually thought of commiting suicide. Then weeks went by and one night I stepped inside my parents room to grab something and I took a moment to apply a lot of lotion on my dry, itchy, and extremely red face and hoping like every day this problem would just dissapear overnight when my mother said, "why don't you try this" and I looked at her and said, it's not going to work with rage inside of me and almost crying, so I wiped off all of the lotion and grabbed the tube of gel and took a small amount of it and rubbed it on my face like a lotion, so I went to sleep in my room and spontan
Posted by sandeep Rajawat on 02/01/2010 at 07:42:00 am
my face become red in sunlight and many time in a day. i feel heat inside my face skin plz help me i feel realy emberrising with my family and with my friend
Posted by Tom on 16/12/2009 at 09:01:00 pm
i shower every morning washing my face with things like blackhead scrubs, soaps, shower gells... but it doesnt matter what i do this red face and scalp just keeps on coming along with the blackheads... I find that i often have a burning sensation on my face because of soap, scrubs and so on so there really isn't a way forward. i wash... my face goes red cause of reaction... if i dont wash my face goes red with oil
Posted by Michelle on 28/11/2009 at 03:45:00 pm
My face feels almost like its burning from within, At one point last year it actually made my skin peel as if sunburnt. It was suggested i eat Yuna iddly enough and it stopped it. Yet taking Omega 3 vitimins doesn't work. It's painful to touch, extreme cold like from a freezer helps as does cold weather. Please if you can, what is this and how can I stop it? I've used the same nonalergenic face cream its the only one i use.
Posted by may on 06/08/2009 at 09:12:00 pm
I have alway had red cheeks even as a child but as i got older i have developed tiny spider veins all over my face and I flush alot more now
Posted by Mids on 20/07/2009 at 08:53:00 am
I am beside myself with total frustration. I have a red itchy face which feels hot to touch. It's is hell trying to get a doctors appointment and as I am a working women I can't just go at the drop of a hat. I have had this skin condition for about 6 months now, it comes and goes and I have to cover it up with thick foundation before I leave the house. My doctor prescribed anti histemines but they didn't work. Please help as I can't bear it any longer, it is really depressing me. Thank you.
Posted by mel on 01/07/2009 at 09:32:00 pm
im 29 weeks pregnant and on my calfes im breaking out in broken veins what can i do to help the problem
Posted by aly on 24/06/2009 at 05:21:00 pm
i have been taking grapeseed extract and ester c for my skin. It takes a while but hang in there! Also i use "ultrasun" facial sunscreen all year round. For quantities of tablets go to www.whatreallyworks.co.uk and type in rosacea. They work on a weight ratio.
Posted by Sissy on 01/05/2009 at 02:15:00 pm
I have been taking steroids for a poison oak rash. My face and chest are very red and my face even burns. I also take prednisone for my Lupus. I think this is too much for my system. I have to discontinue the extra roids.
Posted by 20ritchie09 on 23/04/2009 at 08:19:00 pm
i allways get a red face no matter what the weather no matter what company i am in, evan if i am sat on my own watching t.v. it is starting to controle my life i am less confident in myself, i wont evan go out for a meal with my own family incase it happens. it can be different colours sometimes like a pinky colour or evan a pruplish colour.
Posted by Anonymous on 03/04/2009 at 03:08:00 pm
I have always had red cheeks and a red nose, gets kinda annoying. But it gets worst if im cold or hot and sometimes it's almost purple. I'm just wondering if there could be something wrong? I also have Raynauds, so i'm wondering if this is conected.
Posted by Anonymous on 03/04/2009 at 01:05:00 am
red face and red hands at 2 pm every day light headedness i take ranidine clonopin lisinipril 1000 mg vitamin d low dose aspirin testim b12 shots
Posted by Kyle on 01/04/2009 at 11:16:00 am
Im fiar skinned n scottish so ive noticed developing redness and from it a tendancy to go red in social situations n under stress. Ive found regular exercise helps but was wondering if there was other methods to prevention like diet ect?? I also think smoking is a major cause, possibly the source ov it, would stopping smoking reverse redness and even clear it?
Posted by SANDY on 01/04/2009 at 09:20:00 am
MY SON HAVE HALF SIDE RED AND HALF SIDE WHITE FACE AFTER EXCERCISE
Posted by brenda on 29/03/2009 at 01:10:00 pm
i go red when i have symptons of a period caused by hormones
Posted by lee on 24/03/2009 at 06:51:00 am
my face and hands become glowing red when i enter an office type enviroment containing bright flourescent lighting and stay that way for hours afterwards its very embarrassing and people think i have been drinking! can someone help please
Posted by kj on 23/03/2009 at 08:30:00 pm
yes red wine and any alcohol can make your blood vessels dilate causing your face to look redder. you either sensitive to this or your not! :)
Posted by lkb on 23/03/2009 at 01:47:00 pm
After I have a glasss of red wine my cheeks turn red and sometimes my forehead. I take asthma medicine. Any ideas of what might cause this?
Posted by kj on 16/03/2009 at 10:48:00 pm
hi, i have extreme redness when i laugh on cheecks, nose and forehead. Just a slight smile can make me look red. I did seem to blush a bit so had the ets operation and i think it made things worst. Would antibiotics help me??????
Posted by PT in US on 02/03/2009 at 01:57:00 pm
Take all measures to protect from sun (sun screen lotions, hats, parasols etc)! Problem can get worse with aging. Flushing can be triggered by drugs (read labels or ask pharmacist), foods, wind, sun, alcohol, clorine in pool water, emotions etc. Flushing of face remedies: Apply local cold frequently. Clean skin with Witch Hazel (astringent) and apply lotion which has aloe vera as primary ingredient. Try lotions with trolamine salicylate (10% or more). Do not apply steriod creams. Avoid creams with "paraben" ingredients. Try acetaminophen 650 mg, extended release, every 8 hours as needed. Try sun burn creams.
Posted by Anonymous on 17/02/2009 at 09:07:00 pm
the bottom half of my face is red. i heard that some times it is a cause of certain cancer. right now i have been diagonsed with cancer of the right kidney and the pancresa
Posted by Anonymous on 01/02/2009 at 05:30:00 pm
i would strongly reccomend fade out "facial redness remedy" as it has completely cured my facial redness!=)
Posted by C Morris on 10/01/2009 at 02:40:00 pm
Skim reading, you don't seem to mentio allergies, in particular lactose intolerance. I had a daily dose of porridge bought from a shop in the station; as porridge is meant to be great for the skin I was dismayed when my face went red and didn't link the two. When I got other porridge from a shop in Old Street Tube, the redness fades. I asked them about this and they said it was made from soya milk, unlike others.
Posted by Jack on 07/01/2009 at 02:59:00 pm
hi im red and i dunno what to do, help me?
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