Rectifying Redness
Many people struggle with red, swollen skin. Beauty expert Sharon Noonan shares the best way to treat it
Sharon Noonan is our resident beauty advice columnist, with a wealth of experience over a 28-year career. The aesthetician and skin expert is based in her clinic, Longford’s Saffron Rouge, and in The Wicklow Street Clinic in Dublin. This month, she offers her expert advice on how to deal with redness. There are many things that can cause your face to become red or irritated, but redness is a good indicator that your skin isn’t happy and needs some good-quality skincare intervention. Thankfully, the most common inflammatory skin conditions that cause excess facial redness can be treated with the help of a professional.
Rosacea oR sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is a condition that is caused by something such as medication or your environment. If the redness is stationary then more than likely your skin is dehydrated, perhaps from using harsh ingredients, as the skin becomes drier and skin cells build up. UVA in particular attaches itself to red skin types making the skin feel sensitive and reactive to everything.
When your skin is red with a tendency to flush or blush easily, settling down after a few minutes, this may be early stage rosacea. Early treatment can keep symptoms from becoming severe. Lifestyle adjustments such as diet as well as oral and topical treatments, can make a huge improvement to rosacea-prone skin. It’s best to see a skin expert for results-focused advice.
eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that makes the skin red, dry, itchy and cracked.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. Also known as allergic eczema or atopic eczema, it affects approximately 20% of children and up to 3% of the adult population worldwide. It often develops in connection with other conditions, such as asthma and seasonal allergies, but diet can have a huge impact on eczema.
sunbuRn
We should all be wearing sunblock 365 days of the year, but in Ireland the weather does not often feel hot enough for people to realise they should be wearing it. Even during winter, ultraviolet light, which is an invisible radiation, is present. Sunburn presents as inflamed, red skin that fades to tight, dry flaky patches as it heals. Prevention is key as even one dose of sunburn can increase your risk for developing skin cancer. Find a sun cream you can wear year round that works for your lifestyle. Use a broad-spectrum 30 in the winter and SPF50 in the summer – your skin will thank you, and it can prevent signs of premature ageing