Struggling with unsightly redness and inflammation? Don’t suffer in silence – discover four key triggers and the best products to counteract them
Words Joy Montgomery
Redness can be the most frustrating complexion problem to deal with. It can flare up at any time and can be tricky to conceal with normal make-up. There are various reasons that you might experience that mortifying, face-burning glow.
From sun expose to diet, we’ve discovered four key reasons you might be fighting the flush right now, plus the best make-up products to try.
SUN
Sun exposure is one of the most damaging external causes of skin inflammation. Sunburn itself is an inflammatory reaction to the damage done to the skin through UV rays. Although this is a short-term problem, long-term it can have a cumulative effect. This can result in increased sensitivity and dryness, thus triggering further inflammation.
DIET
Eating certain foods can cause skin to become inflamed. In extreme cases allergic reactions to certain food can cause this problem and should be discussed with a GP. There are, however food groups such as gluten, processed vegetable oils and dairy, which are known to irritate the skin. Instead, try to include more omega-3 and 6 fats in your diet by eating fatty fishes, like salmon and mackerel, flaxseed and leafy greens.
STRESS AND SLEEP
Your skin is an active organ, which is palpably affected by issues such as stress and lack of sleep. Chronic insomnia can trigger an excess of the stress hormone cortisol. Long term this can trigger unsightly inflammation. Furthermore, when you sleep your endorphin levels are at their highest and cortisol at its lowest. This is essential for allowing your skin to repair itself.
SKIN ISSUES
Long-term skin issues such as acne, rosacea and eczema are, unsurprisingly, a primary cause of inflammation. Many of the above factors can exacerbate these pre-existing skin conditions. For example, stress is commonly known as a key trigger for rosacea, so it’s important to learn how to get anxiety under control. It’s also important to keep inflamed acne-prone skin moisturised, because spots produce excess sebum when they become dry.
