NOVEMBER 10 2018, WELLNESS
3 Ways To Reduce Skin Redness
Dealing with the inflammation still means that you can face the world but who wants to go out not feeling their best?!
Red, irritated skin can be aggravating and embarrassing, but luckily there are loads of ways to find relief. There are countless reasons as to why you could have red skin, as well as many ways to fix the redness!
If you see your skin to be generally sensitive and prone to redness, avoid long, hot showers, use gentle cleansers, and keep your skin moisturized.
Colds, allergies, skin conditions, sun exposure, and the weather—all of these (and more) can create dry skin around your face.
You can soothe your irritated skin with moisturizers and DIY face masks, then neutralize redness long-term by altering your diet and treating any underlying medical conditions.
With a few simple tricks, you can successfully soothe this sensitive area of your skin.
Drink less alcohol and more water!
Fun fact: The body is about 60% water, give or take. You are always losing water from your body, primarily through urine and sweat. To prevent dehydration, you need to drink plenty amounts of water.
Alcohol dries out your skin and causes all sorts of bad things to your body. Alcohol also dehydrates you and essentially works against you. I typically do not drink much alcohol and feel MUCH better physically and emotionally.
Be sure to be drinking plenty amounts of water because health experts usually recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon. This is referred to as the 8×8 rule and is very easy to remember.
Most people know that consuming more water can be beneficial for clear skin and it can also improve the symptoms of acne.
If you have dry skin, drinking water will provide more moisture to your skin, but that’s not all. Water flushes toxins out of your body and anything else that shouldn’t be there, so it relieves your skin of any dirt and bacteria.
Check out one of my latest posts on how to make your water more delicious and healthier.
Avoid certain bad foods for your skin!
Aside from drinking plenty of water, make sure to eat hydrating foods. There are some dietary changes you can make to help with the redness from the inside.
Hydrating, cooling foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, celery, coconuts, cucumbers, melons, peaches, papayas, spinach, and broccoli contain antioxidants capable of moisturizing your skin from the inside out.
By consuming more of these foods, you can protect your skin from drying out when exposed to cold winter air or other harsh, dry conditions. On the contrary, sugary foods, excessive dairy, and spicy foods can all cause redness.
Avoid anything that increases the redness of your skin in general (hot food, spices, saunas, etc.). Try to curb the sweets again… more water!
If your urine is a light yellow that is almost clear, you are hydrated. If your urine is an intense yellow or orange-yellow, you should drink more water.
SAVANNA LEIGH
Hello! My name is Savanna and I am from the Virgin Islands. I love surfing, scuba diving and anything involving the beach. While relaxing, I enjoy blogging <3
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My final tip is to use red reducing products and household items!
As for product cleansers, try to use products with sulfates such as Rosanil. If your redness involves pimples and you do not have sensitive skin, try products that have benzoyl peroxide such as Clearasil.
After washing your face, instantly apply a moisturizing facial cream (or lotion) over the surface to lock in moisture. You can also put your lotion in the fridge and apply it to your face when chilled. Cold products cause the blood vessels in your face to constrict and redness to decrease.
Avoid buying products with alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, fragrance, eucalyptus, or clove oil. These are considered skin irritants and will only make your skin more irritated.
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A common household item to reduce skin redness is ice! Hold ice wrapped in a paper towel right on the spot for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off at least twice. The longer you can do this the more successful it is, so aim for at least two times, perhaps at different stages of the day. The intervals are essential to avoid inflaming the skin more by keeping the ice on for too long. This is such a great and super easy natural treatment.
Another standard item found in your kitchen is a cucumber! Cucumber is excellent at reducing pimple redness which is mainly due to its cooling effect.
The cucumber works by restricting the blood vessels in your skin, lessening the redness – the same reason it’s recommended for placing over your eyes.
The colder, the better, so take it right from the fridge. Merely use a slice and hold it over the spot for a few minutes, once it’s warmed up replace with another slice for a further few minutes and repeat!
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Another plant you could use is aloe vera gel. Aloe vera can assist reduce redness and relieve pain.
You can use the gel from an aloe vera plant or buy it over the counter. You can buy aloe vera gel at most supermarkets or drug stores.
To remove the gel from the aloe vera plant, remove a large leaf of aloe from the bottom of the plant. Cut down the center of the plant, score the insides, and pull the gel out. Apply the aloe gel to your face twice daily to help decrease the redness.
You can also make your masks to help bring your skin back to normal:
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Cucumber-oatmeal: Mix one cup of oatmeal with chopped cucumber in a blender. Add some yogurt for extra moisturizing. Apply on face and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse.
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Green tea: Brew some green tea, let it cool, and then soak a washcloth and apply to your face. Leave for 10-20 minutes. You don’t have to rinse it off unless you want to.
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Aloe vera: Get some aloe—as pure as possible—and apply to the red areas of your skin like a moisturizer.
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Mix your own: Use ingredients like lavender (eases inflammation), licorice root (potent anti-inflammatory with compounds that reduce redness), feverfew (helps reduce tiny red lines), chamomile, tea tree, yogurt, honey, and oatmeal.
Lastly, Coconut oil is a natural emollient, which locks in moisture. If you have sensitive skin, be careful putting oils on acne-prone skin because oil can make acne worse.
Coconut oil stops your skin from losing moisture and becoming dehydrated, which is a common reason for redness. It also has lauric acid in it, which has antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties to help revitalize your skin.
Each night, rub coconut oil onto your face, paying particular attention to problem spots that feel extra rough or that are extremely red.