In most cases, blushing is a totally normal response to extreme physical and emotional situations. The tell-tale feeling of heat in your cheeks, face and neck shows up as a pink or red flush on your skin. Though blushing can be embarrassing when it reveals feelings you're not comfortable making known, it's rarely a sign of a serious problem.
Identification
Blushing is an involuntary reaction that occurs when the blood flow to the upper part of your body increases, bringing a red flush to your face, neck or upper chest. The blood vessels in your upper body are particularly close to the surface, which makes the increased flow of red, oxygen-rich blood show more vividly through your skin. Blushing is historically associated with modesty and demureness or with shame and embarrassment, according to an article in a 2007 issue of the "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology."
Causes
There are several factors that can cause you to blush. Extreme emotions, like anger, excitement or embarrassment, can cause blushing. So can eating spicy foods, drinking alcohol, extreme temperatures and some medical conditions, including rosacea, carcinoid syndrome and menopause. Some medications, particularly ones you might take to control diabetes or cholesterol, may also have blushing as a side effect.
Prevention/Solution
Sometimes, blushing can be prevented by avoiding the things that cause it. For instance, if you know you're prone to blush after eating a spicy meal, order a milder dish to stop your blush before it starts. If your blushing is caused by social anxiety or embarrassment, cognitive therapy may help you more effectively cope with the situations that trigger your blushing.
Considerations
People with fair skin are more likely to be prone to blushing than people with darker skin because the blood's color can show more vividly through paler skin, according to the University of Alabama Medicine's "Dear Doctor" column. Blushing is typically most common and most intense during adolescence, but it can affect people of any age.
Expert Insight
Extreme blushing may be caused by abnormal production of serotonin in some people, according to the University of Alabama Medicine. A class of drugs called beta blockers help regulate serotonin production and may be useful for treating some forms of blushing.
