Exercise can leave you red-faced in more ways than one. While a flush from a hard run is normal (as is one after falling off the treadmill), all that blood rushing to your face can exacerbate existing skin conditions like rosacea and miliaria (also called "sweat rash"), making already inflamed skin even worse. Dr. Runhild Gammelsaeter, Ph.D., cellular physiologist and the researcher behind Freya Skin Care has a simple solution: "In Scandinavia mothers used to wash their faces in ice cold water every morning. This helped stimulate blood circulation, which improved collagen production and the skin's natural defense system. Sometimes the simple, easily available works the best." There are also medical treatments available to ameliorate chronic redness. Dr. Gammelsaeter advises making an appointment with a dermatologist to learn more about treatment options.
