We are all genetically blessed (or not) with our skin, but if you have fairer skin, there’s a good chance you regularly feel personally victimised by uneven, red, inflamed or blotchy skin. While it usually develops when you’re younger, there are ways you can prevent it from getting worse with age.
First and foremost, you should take preventative steps to reduce the appearance of blotchy skin.
6 top causes of blotchy skin
1. Smoking or excessive drinking
Oxygen or nutrient deprived skin due to smoking and excessive drinking, as well as extreme temperatures can all have an effect on the visibility of broken capillaries, especially on your face (nose and cheeks most commonly). Broken capillaries, are more likely to occur if you have dry, thin or sensitive skin, or those suffering from skin conditions such as rosacea or acne.
Smoking causes oxidative stress so that insufficient oxygen reaches the tissues resulting in blocking of the blood vessel, which in turn leads to dilation of the capillaries.
2. Stress and excessive exercise
Stress and excessive exercise can increase blood pressure, causing the capillaries to dilate and over time cause ‘broken capillaries’. Yes, there is such thing as too much exercise!
3. Genetics and chronic skin conditions
These include dermatitis, a condition that results in inflammation and a disrupted barrier of the skin causing irritation and dryness. Skin appears red, inflamed and dry. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that presents as flushing of the skin. Both conditions will give the appearance of blotchy skin. In the case of rosacea, certain triggers can lead to the skin flushing. These conditions are not curable but can be managed with appropriate treatments and homecare.
4. Hormones
Hormonal changes during pregnancy or using hormonal birth control methods can cause melasma, resulting in an excess of melanin causing skin discolouration. As well as this, hormonal changes during menopause can cause thinning of the outermost layer of the skin with redness becoming more prominent
5. Environmental changes
This includes UV rays and changes in seasons. Excessive UV exposure and repeated sunburn break down collagen, increase pigmentation resulting in an uneven skin tone.
6. Poor diet
A poor diet can affect the body’s ability to regenerate itself. Avoid estrogenic foods such as such a soy based products including tofu, soy milk, and seeds such as flaxseed and chickpeas.
If you’re eating well and taking care of your mind and body but still suffering from blotchy skin, there are several steps you can take:
- Don’t excessively scrub or use inappropriate home skincare for your skin type. Remember: no two skins are alike – just because your friend’s skin looks fantastic using that new product does not mean that yours will too.
- IPL and lasers impede the blood flow of the capillaries and destroy them. The treated veins will be removed by the body’s natural processes, evening out skin tone.
- Blue, infra-red and red LED light therapies can aid in reducing redness by stimulation of the tissue, resulting in an improved tone and elasticity of the skin as well as a reduction in inflammation.
- At home care is imperative to strengthen and even out the skin. At Skin Clinic @Blyss we recommend a range of scientifically proven results based products, prescribed by professional clinicians.
- A balanced diet can increase nutrients and oxygen making their way around the body and have positive effects on blotchy skin. Avoiding triggers such as spicy foods, corticosteroids (causes dilation of blood vessels) and stress, can improve this condition.
- Quitting smoking and avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol is also recommended of course.
