“A woman is most beautiful when she smiles. Other than that, the most valuable tip I’ve learned is always to use a skin moisturizer!” We hear you, Beyoncé! Sometimes, though, there are certain skin conditions where moisturizer simply isn’t enough to bring back skin health. When you see chronic redness, sometimes possibly accompanied by swelling and other signs of inflammation, it is but only proper to become concerned.

Red, White or Blue

More often than that, causes of red skin are just minor disturbances to the natural balance of the skin. When the redness starts becoming the norm, something must be wrong. Listed below are 7 of the most common causes of redness on the skin.

1. Irritation. The redness may be due to environmental pollution that includes smoke, dust, dirt and pollens. It may also be due to harsh chemicals in your cosmetics and other personal care products.

Remedies and treatment: When you see signs of irritation, immediately wash your face with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Make sure to follow up with an unscented oil or a lightweight, mild moisturizer to help soothe the itchiness. If within reach, apply licorice, aloe or chamomile extract to encourage the faster regeneration of disturbed and damaged skin.

2. Rosacea.  Some people easily blush but, some people simply turn red due to rosacea. It’s a genetic disorder that often appears after 30, and also often mistaken for acne. It is common to see rosacea and acne together. When rosacea worsens, the redness becomes chronic and permanent. That’s because busted veins are what causes this condition to appear as reddening of the skin.

Remedies and treatment: For the most part, treating rosacea calls for a lifestyle overhaul, which must be complemented with lessening sun exposure and avoiding harsh ingredients from personal care products.

3.  Acne. This consists of clusters of blemishes that either appear as whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. The exact cause of acne has not been pinpointed but, most specialists tend to agree of the common triggers: hormonal changes, chronic stress, sleeplessness, poor diet and poor hygiene.

Remedies and treatment: There is not much that can be done about the spikes and drops in your hormones but, you can better manage acne by making big lifestyle adjustments.

4. Atopic dermatitis. Like rosacea, atopic dermatitis or eczema tends to run in families. People affected generally have to deal with this condition throughout their lives. Atopic dermatitis often starts as a very itchy patch of inflamed skin. When you scratch, the affected skin appears darker, thicker and drier.

Remedies and treatment: Don’t allow stress to overcome your emotions, mental health, and overall well-being. Other solutions are to avoid sleeping late, drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, and never leave your skin dry for too long. Sometimes, however, atopic dermatitis needs medications, both topical and oral, to be treated.

5. Cellulitis. This is due to bacteria and one of the most common causes of red skin. The infection happens when bacteria infects the skin and spreads.

Remedies and treatment: This condition requires antibiotic medication to be overcome.  In cases where auto-immune disorders such as lupus or diabetes are present, treatment must be closely

6. Scarlet fever. In some cases, red skin or red rashes throughout the body is the result of toxins produced by strep bacteria. This is often characterized by the appearance of rashes, sore throat, headache, and chills.

Remedies and treatment: Antibiotic treatment is a must for Scarlet fever. Other than that, you maya] also take over-the-counter pain relievers when the pain on your throat becomes unbearable. Stay away from smoke, pollution, sweet drinks and food, and any other factor that can further irritate your throat. Improve indoor humidity by turning on a humidifier.

7. Petechiae. Red marks also appear when the blood vessels underneath the skin are busted and therefore leaking blood into the skin. The root causes of broken capillaries include injuries, crying, forceful weightlifting and even certain medications.

Treatment and medication: New petechiae marks may be relieved by using a cold compress. In some cases, though, there are other, more serious underlying diseases. In which case, the root causes will have to be treated.

CONCLUSION

There are many reasons why the skin turns red. Most of the time, there’s nothing to it but, if the symptoms persist, it’s time to take the redness more seriously. Keep in mind that isolating treatment for your skin is not the solution. You ask, “Then, what is?” Most problematic skin diseases have underlying lifestyle issues. Tackle that and you’ll be fine.