Redness on upper cheeks. What are my options to reduce it? (Photo)

Question

I have this persistent redness on my upper cheeks and was wondering what options I have in terms of treatment to reduce it. Thanks

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello, my name is Ranen and I am an aesthetic nurse at Aesthetic Skin in Chicago.Persistent redness on the upper cheeks is very common, and there are effective ways to reduce it depending on what’s causing it. I can’t diagnose you, but here are the most common causes and the best treatment options for each so you know what direction to explore.Rosacea (very common)
Especially if: Redness flares with heat, alcohol, exercise, stress, spicy foods. You see tiny visible vessels (telangiectasias). Skin feels sensitive or flushes easily, Broken capillaries / vascular changes. These show up as: Persistent red patches, Fine red vessels, Redness that doesn’t go away with skincare, post-inflammatory redness, Often from: Acne, Over-exfoliation, Retinoid irritation.  Heat or exercise-induced flushing. Some people just flush more easily due to vascular reactivity. Barrier weakness. If your skin is dehydrated or the barrier is compromised, it can look chronically red or inflamed. Treatment Options (Most Effective → Least Invasive), Vascular Lasers (Best option for persistent redness). Gold-standard for red cheeks. Amazing for broken capillaries + flushing + background redness. Typically 1–3 sessions. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), Great for diffuse redness, also helps with mild rosacea. Improves texture and pigment too.  Best in a series of 3–5.  Pico is less vascular-specific but can help some redness patterns.  If your redness has been around for a long time, lasers/ light-based treatments are usually the only thing that fully clears it.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Vbeam laser is an excellent modality for patients who have rosacea, blushing of the skin, facial and body telangiectasia, spider veins, redness, post surgical redness, and skin flushing. It is a safe procedure that can be used at varying depths to help treat micro blood vessels in the skin. We also use it in our office for facial skin inflammation, keloids, and hypertrophic scarring. It is an important part of scar therapy. Vbeam can be combined with chemical peels and other lasers, but experience with the treatment is essential. The Vbeam laser does not affect deeper tissue. Schedule a consultation with an expert in Vbeam and you will find it to be an excellent modality for many skin types. 
 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Danielle Shanley, MD · Answer

Hi! You could do the IPL (photo facial) this is an intense pulsed light which will correct your redness on your cheeks, it will also correct any sunspots and broken capillaries for you!

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

A IPL light based treatment would best help reduce this redness on your cheeks. The treatment works by a light generated heat that breaks apart unwanted pigment and eliminates undesired redness and fine blood vessels.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

In addition to the regular at-home use of topical Rx anti-redness medications, you may wish to explore the use of intradermally placed, microdroplets of Botox, which I have successfully employed on a number of occasions for treating persistent facial flush and erythema. The treatment is simple and only takes a few minutes to perform. You would be wise to consult with an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist injector expert. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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