Redness of the face can occur due to prolonged exposure to the sun, during periods of anxiety, embarrassment and nervousness, or during physical activity, which is considered normal. However, this redness may also be indicative of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, for example, or indicate allergies.
Because redness of the face can be a symptom of several situations, it is best to consult with a dermatologist when the cause of redness cannot be identified or when other symptoms such as joint pain, fever, swelling of the face or increased skin sensitivity, for example.
The main causes of redness of the face are
Spending too much time in the sun or in a very hot environment can also make your face red, which is considered normal.
What to do: It’s important to wear sunscreen every day, not just when you spend a lot of time exposed to the sun. In addition to protecting the skin from the sun, the protector prevents the appearance of spots and slows down the aging of the skin. In addition, it is recommended to wear lighter clothing, to relieve discomfort caused by excessive heat and drink plenty of fluids during the day, as it is also possible to avoid dehydration.
It is common for the face to redness when the person is in more stressful situations, which generates anxiety, shame or nervousness, because in these situations there is a high of adrenaline, which causes the heart to accelerate and the body temperature to begin to rise, in addition to the dilation of blood vessels, it increases blood flow. As the skin of the face is thinner, this increased blood flow can be easily noticed through the redness of the face.
What to do: As redness reflects only a psychological state right now, it’s best to try to relax and feel comfortable with the situation. Because over time, the changes caused by adrenaline, including the redness of the face, decrease. If these changes are frequent and disrupt personal or professional life, it is important to call a psychologist so that relaxation techniques can be adopted, for example.
Facial redness due to physical activity is common, as in these cases there is an increase in heart rate and therefore an increase in blood flow, redness of the face.
What to do: The redness of the face is only a consequence of physical activity, so it is not necessary to take specific measures to do so, because as the person relaxes, the momentary changes caused by the exercise disappear, including the redness of the face.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, or LED, is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by the appearance of a red spot on the butterfly-shaped face. In this disease, immune system cells attack the body’s own healthy cells, causing, for example, inflammation of the joints, fatigue, fever and the appearance of sores inside the mouth or inside the nose. Learn to recognize the symptoms of lupus.
What to do: Lupus does not cure and therefore its treatment should be done for life to relieve symptoms. Treatment varies depending on the symptoms that occur and the extent of the disease, the use of anti-inflammatory, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants may be recommended.
In addition, lupus is characterized by periods of crisis and remission, i.e. periods when no symptoms and periods of signs and symptoms are observed, which warrants ongoing treatment and regular medical follow-up.
Facial redness can also be a sign of allergy, and is often related to food or contact allergies. Allergy is also related to the fact that the person’s skin is more sensitive, which can cause redness when the person passes a different cream through the face or washes with an unused soap, for example.
What to do: In these cases, it is important to identify the factor that triggers the allergy and avoid any contact or consumption. In addition, it is important to consult a dermatologist for a skin check and skin type-specific creams or soaps may be recommended, avoiding allergic reactions and hypersensitivity. Find out how to know your skin type.
Rosacea is a dermatological disease of unknown cause, characterized by redness of the face, especially in the cheeks, forehead and nose. This redness occurs as a result of sun exposure, excessive heat, the use of certain dermatological products, such as acids, spicy food consumption, alcohol abuse and psychological factors, such as anxiety and nervousness.
In addition to redness of the face, it is also possible in some cases to observe an increase in skin sensitivity, a feeling of warmth in the skin of the face, swelling of the face, the appearance of skin lesions that may contain pus and drier skin.
O que fazer: O tratamento da rosácea deve ser indicado pelo dermatologista e tem como objetivo aliviar os sintomas e melhorar a qualidade de vida da pessoa, já que não tem cura. Assim, pode ser indicado passar um creme no local da vermelhidão ou apenas sabonete neutro hidratante, além de protetor solar com alto fator de proteção. Entenda como deve ser feito o tratamento para rosácea.
Slap disease, scientifically called infectious erythema, is an infectious disease caused by parvovirus B19 characterized by damage to the airways and lungs, especially in children. In addition to flu-like respiratory symptoms, such as fever and nasal discharge, it is possible to see red spots on the child’s face, such as slapping him or her, as well as on his or her arms, legs, and trunk, associated with mild itching. The presence of a red spot on the face is one of the main factors that differentiate the infectious rash from the flu.
What to do: In these cases, it is important that the child be taken to the pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis and can start treatment, which can be done by resting and drinking plenty of fluids, since the immune system can easily manage it. to remove viruses from the body and other medications to relieve symptoms. , such as antipyretics or anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for pain and fever, and antihistamines, such as loratadine, for itching.
Although the immune system is able to resolve the infection, it is important that the child is accompanied by a pediatrician to detect complications, such as severe anemia, in children with weakened immune systems or who have a known blood disease since the disease. it is easily transmitted to others, and often affects several members of the same family.