Facial Redness
‘Sensitive skin’ is a term used to describe skin that has a reduced tolerance to foreign substances. Sensitivity, and the facial redness is often a result of an impaired skin barrier. It can also be associated with changes in the capillaries caused by sun damage.
How does an impaired skin barrier cause redness?
- Lipids in the skin barrier are disrupted by one of the above factors
- The barrier integrity is compromised, enabling irritants to penetrate the skin
- Penetrants interact with epidermal cells, causing an inflammatory response
- The inflammation leads to vasodilation (expansion of the blood vessels), leading to redness (erythema), often accompanied by a stinging sensation and sometimes swelling
- Damage from the sun thins the skin, making it easier to see the underlying blood vessels
- The sun-injured skin stimulates natural wound healing. This process triggers the development of more blood vessels, which also contributes to redness
- The sun also causes new and existing blood vessels to become twisted and dilated leading to more redness
Photoaged skin
- Hyperpigmentation appears
- Fine lines & wrinkles appear
- Dermis becomes thinner and dermal matrix is broken down
- Blood vessels (capillaries) become contorted and enlarged, giving the appearance of redness
There are many trigger factors that can create an impaired skin barrier, including:
- Diet
- Climatic conditions – heat, cold, low humidity
- Stress – which impairs lipid bilayer formation
- Over-cleansing and under moisturising
- Using incorrect skin care products or professional treatments
- Photoageing
- Skin disorders or diseases such as Rosacea and Psoriasis
Recommended Treatments*
*All recommendation and information available on or through this website are for general informational purposes only. A thorough consultation is required prior to any product recommendation or treatments in order to correctly prescribe.