What is it? Blushing or flushing is when your face, neck, or upper chest suddenly turns red due to increased blood flow. It can be triggered by emotions or physical changes.
Causes Blushing is your body’s natural response to strong emotions like embarrassment, anger, or excitement. But, flushing can also happen due to certain conditions, such as:
- High fever
- Menopause
- Rosacea (a long-term skin condition)
- Carcinoid syndrome (symptoms caused by tumors in areas like the small intestine, lungs, or colon)
Other common triggers include:
- Drinking alcohol
- Some medications for diabetes or high cholesterol
- Physical activity
- Intense emotions
- Eating hot or spicy foods
- Changes in temperature or heat exposure
Home Care Tips To keep blushing or flushing in check, try to avoid your personal triggers. That could mean staying away from things like hot drinks, spicy foods, extreme heat, or direct sunlight.
When to See a Doctor If your flushing doesn’t seem to go away or it comes with other symptoms (like diarrhea), it’s a good idea to reach out to your health care provider.
What to Expect at the Doctor's Office Your doctor will likely do a physical exam and ask questions like:
- Does the flushing happen just on your face or all over your body?
- Do you experience hot flashes?
- How often do you blush or flush?
- Has it been getting worse or more frequent?
- Does alcohol make it worse?
- Are there other symptoms like diarrhea, wheezing, hives, or trouble breathing?
- Does it occur after eating certain foods or exercising?
Treatment The treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Your doctor might recommend avoiding specific triggers to help manage the condition.
References
- Dinulos JGH. Acne, Rosacea, and Related Disorders. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021: chap 7.
- James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Erythema and Urticaria. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: Chap 7
