Blotchy Skin: Causes, Solutions & Products To Help, From Derms

That being said, education is the first step. Below, a few common causes of blotchy skin and how to soothe your complexion stat, from experts. 

The good news: "Many cases of blotchy skin are temporary and could be brought on by exposure to outside influences (e.g., the sun, stress, cold or hot temperature, exercise, sauna, etc.)" notes dermatology nurse practitioner Jodi Logerfo DNP, APRN, FNP-BC.

As mentioned before, the list of causes here is anything but short. We've collected some of the most common below for reference. We'll attach a hint to each section to aid your understanding of what makes one different from the next: 

If you spent time in the sun over the last week (yes, even if you wore SPF), that may be a cause of blotchiness. Sunburns often won't show up looking uniform, especially if you applied sunscreen sporadically. 

Logerfo notes alcohol as another common trigger—one that should be fairly easy to spot. The alcohol flush happens to many people, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. However, it is helpful to be aware of the possible reaction so you can be mindful of when and where you experience a skin flush. 

If your skin is on the fair side, then you probably see a bit of flushing every time you work out or start to feel hot—a normal reaction, we might add. Logerfo notes that those prone to exercise-induced flushing may also see redness post-sauna or steam room use. 

The best way to determine if food may be the culprit is to keep a food journal and note each time you flush. Eventually, you may be able to find a correlation. If not, visit your doctor for an allergy test.

Remember, the rash could show up on your face even if you didn't touch the allergen directly to this area, as it can transfer from your hands to your cheeks, lips, eyelids, etc.

The cold flush is common among those with fair skin. Generally, high winds make this flush worse and may dry out the skin, exacerbating any redness that showed up to begin with. This type of blotchiness should go away soon after you enter a warmer space. 

While rosacea does have its own set of triggers (alcohol for some, heat for others, and so on), you'll see it flaring more often than situational causes like those above. 

While acne is typically described as a bump here and there, blotchiness often accompanies pimples. Especially those with under-the-skin cystic pimples, your skin may appear blotchy due to the increased inflammation. 

Another common skin condition that can cause flushing is eczema. Any redness from eczema will also be accompanied by dryness, flaking, itch, or irritation. Your rash may be present 24/7 or flare when triggered (similar to rosacea) be it by stress, topical irritants, etc. 

Dry skin can lead to a compromised skin barrier, which may appear blotchy and red and become irritated easily. Seasonal weather changes may call for a heavier moisturizer, some natural skin slugging with botanical oils, or simply more frequent application of moisturizer. 

This applies to both physical (scrubs, facial cleansing brushes, etc.) and chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs, peels, etc.). 

It's important to note that retinol can even trigger contact dermatitis, especially around the mouth (formally called perioral dermatitis). 

Some folks even get stress rashes, which include raised bumps and may spread onto the neck and chest. 

Garshick notes that brown patches may actually be melasma. This is particularly common above the lip, on the cheeks, and down the neck and chest. Melasma is related to hormonal shifts and tends to show up around the time of menopause for those who menstruate. 

Last but not least, you just might be blushing! This can happen when you're nervous, stressed, excited, embarrassed, and so on. If it's simply blushing to blame, the flush won't last long. 

The most important step you can take when dealing with a blotchy complexion is to identify your triggers and avoid them as much as possible. In the meantime, rely on topical solutions to help soothe your skin from the outside. Below, a few important notes: 

Maintaining a healthy skin barrier is the best way to avoid blotchy flare-ups. There's a whole lot to learn about the barrier and how to optimize it (in-depth guide here), but keep the following quick tips in mind for now:

Trying to figure out what caused your blotchy skin can be frustrating, but know that most often the blotchiness will go away with attention to skin care and your skin barrier. If you think your skin barrier is damaged but want to be sure, check out this guide.