How to Reduce Redness With a Moisturizer

Red skin is often a sign of dry skin, or possibly a condition called rosacea. Moisturizers are available that are designed to treat dry, irritated skin and reduce visible redness in the process. A moisturizer can't add moisture to the inside of the skin, but rather helps the skin by providing a barrier against drying agents. A good moisturizer should protect the skin and help retain moisture, maintaining the skin's natural hydration.

Instructions

1. Apply a quality skin care moisturizer after gently cleansing the facial skin in the morning and evening. Use a moisturizer with an SPF 15 sunscreen to protect the skin against the drying effects of the sun, a humectant such as glycerin to moisturize the skin and an emollient such as sunflower oil or another oil. The moisturizer should also be fragrance-free and hypo-allergenic.

2. Use a facial moisturizer cream in the evening that includes a humectant to add moisture and an ingredient that acts as a barrier against the drying air such as petrolatum. This is a heavier moisturizer that provides better protection for nighttime.

3. Apply a quality lotion to any dry skin on your body twice a day: in the morning and at night. Use a skin lotion with glycerin and petrolatum. Apply the lotion immediately following a bath or shower while your skin is still slightly damp. The petrolatum holds the moisture in so your skin can absorb it.

References

• Skin Therapy Letter: Moisturizers: What They Are and a Practical Approach to Product Selection
• Dermatology Nursing: Medical Management of Rosacea: Role of Proper Skin Care and Treatment Selection