Red Alert

The pretty flush you get postworkout is healthy—we’re not talking about that type of redness. What’s damaging is a crimson cast that looks ruddy and never seems to go away, derms say. Here’s what may be fanning the flames.

- Beth Janes

Red has never signified calm and tranquility. So when it’s the shade your skin has taken on, whether all over or in smaller patches, you need to act: “Redness is an indication that there’s inflammation in the skin and blood is rushing in to try to heal it,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. The redness may be minor at first and easily covered with foundation, but like a smoldering fire, if you ignore it, things will escalate.

For one thing, chronic redness— and the ensuing inflammation— makes “skin age much faster,” says Dr.Julie Russak, a dermatologist in New York City. “Inflammation not only destroys your stores of skin-plumping collagen but also hampers the production of new collagen, so it’s a twofold insult,” she says. It can also cause permanent dilation of blood vessels over time, which gives skin that ruddy look.

Figuring out exactly what’s got you red in the face can be tricky, though. Redness is skin’s default reaction to any number of conditions. But the three most common are rosacea, sensitivity, and allergies. These guidelines will help you single out the source and restore your complexion to beautiful.

Rosacea