Red patches on your face

Learn about acne & red blotch treatment.

For some of us, our skin can be a real pain. Red patches on your face can be especially annoying, particularly when they come and go and you’re not quite sure what’s causing them. If you’re suffering from red blotches on your face, take a look at our advice to a member of The Mix’s community below for some tips on how to deal with them.

Why do I have blotches on my face?

“I’ve got two patches of dry, red skin on my left cheek and on my chin. What do you think they are, and should I be worried?”

While the redness on your skin might be nothing serious at all, the only way to get a proper diagnosis is to visit your doctor (GP). They will be able to examine you properly and let you know if a medical condition is causing the symptoms you describe.

Causes of red patches on the face

If you do in fact have a medical condition there are several possible causes. Common causes of red patches on the face include:

Rosacea

An inflammatory condition that results in red flushing of the cheeks, forehead and nose. In order to reduce flare-ups of rosacea it’s important to find and avoid the triggers, such as hot food, drink, alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, temperature changes and stress.

Psoriasis

An inflammatory skin condition which usually appears as red scaly patches that, when scratched, reveal fine silvery scales. This may feel uncomfortable and itch, but with the use of non-fragrance moisturisers can be controlled and eased. Psoriasis usually affects the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp. It’s thought to be triggered by skin injury, throat infections and stress.

Eczema

Eczema is characterised by red, dry, itchy patches of skin which can occur on many parts of the body. Eczema can be treated by lotions and creams that help to keep the skin moisturised. Learn more about eczema here.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis comes in various flavours including contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to a particular thing, like a piece of jewellery, so that’s unlikely to be the cause of red patches on your face. Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema which can cause red patches on the face. Treatments are similar to those for eczema.

More support with skin complaints

It’s best to see your GP when any blotchy skin on your face is at its worst as it’s easier to make a diagnosis. In the meantime, if you’d like some more information about skin complaints you can check out our other articles on appearance here. If you’re having problems with spots, head here.

You could also share your experiences with skin complaints on our discussion boards to pick up some tips from The Mix’s community.