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. Redness in 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 indicants also that 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 (a condition in which 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 brain. It leads to rashes due to the excessive inflammatory activity in the body. Lupus rash usually resembles a butterfly in shape, therefore, it affects the bridge of the nose and cheeks but not the forehead. Thus, it is also known as malar rash or lupus butterfly rash. People affected with this condition can have rashes on other parts of the body as well such as the legs.
Scarlet Fever
Any sort of fever has a high chance of causing 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 that may itch. The skin rash usually appears first on the neck and face, with the appearance of a slight pallor around the mouth. It then spreads to the chest, back, and rest of the body. This rash is often flaky in nature.
Other Causes
Some other causes include pregnancy, menopause, hot flashes, hyperthyroidism, heatstroke, dehydration, diabetes, heart diseases, Hodgkin’s disease, carcinoid syndrome, etc. One of the most common causes is 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 also that can 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 experience redness in the face.
There are other more common causes as well that are transient in nature and resolve on their own. These include consumption of alcohol and spicy food, exercising, anger, stress, embarrassment in a social gathering, sensitivity to niacin, etc. However, if you are suffering from chronic facial redness that refuses to go away despite your best efforts, then it is best to visit a doctor and get the condition diagnosed and treated.
