Facial Redness Causes

One of the most common complains that people present with to the doctor is facial redness. This is quite a discomforting condition as it is glaringly visible at all times and there is little that a person can do to cover it up. This condition may or may not be permanent and it may or may not present with any other symptoms. There are many facial redness causes which include autoimmune conditions and infections. Given below are a few causes of redness on face which can help you identify the etiology of your condition.

Rosacea
This is a condition that usually affects Caucasians and is more commonly seen in women. The onset of this condition is seen between thirty and sixty years. The facial redness of rosacea generally starts with the central face across the cheeks, nose and forehead but can also affect the neck, chest, ears and the scalp. Initially, it may resemble a sunburn. However, while the redness may vary from day-to-day, the symptoms eventually worsen and there are other symptoms that also crop up. These include itchiness, the formation of small papules, telangiectasia (dilation of the superficial blood vessels of the face), red domed papules and pustules, red gritty eyes, burning and stinging sensation, etc.

Lupus
Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, that is, a condition where the antibodies fail to differentiate between the cells of the body and foreign cells. This disease affects multiple organs including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints and the brain. It is one of the causes of facial redness, as it leads to rashes due to the excess of inflammatory activity in the body. Lupus rash usually resembles a butterfly in shape and so, is seen to affect the bridge of the nose and the cheeks but not the forehead. Thus, it is also known as malar rash or lupus butterfly rash. These people can also have rashes elsewhere on the body, like the legs.

Scarlet Fever
One of the other causes includes scarlet fever. Any kind of fever has a high chance of leading to redness or erythema of the face. In scarlet fever, the most striking feature is the rash. It usually resembles a bad case of sunburn with tiny bumps which may itch. The skin rash usually appears first on the neck and face, with a slight region of pallor around the mouth. It then spreads to the chest, back and then the rest of the body. This rash is often flaky in nature.

Other Causes
There are many other causes of facial redness. These include pregnancy, menopause, hot flashes, hyperthyroidism, heatstroke, dehydration, diabetes, heart diseases, Hodgkin's disease, carcinoid syndrome, etc. One of the most common causes of facial redness is also allergic reactions to certain medications or food items that a person may be allergic or intolerant to, like an anaphylactic reaction. There are many hormonal conditions that can also lead to redness and flushing of the face, like Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, etc. People who are suffering from a hypertensive crisis also tend to have facial redness.

There are other more common causes as well, which are transient in nature. These include consumption of alcohol, spicy food, exercising, anger, stress, embarrassment in a social gathering, sensitivity to niacin, etc. These are transient in nature and resolve on their own. However, if you are suffering from chronic facial redness which refuses to go away despite your best efforts, then it is best to visit a doctor and get the condition diagnosed and treated.