Blushing or flushing is defined as “a sudden reddening of the face, neck or upper chest.” Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, reports that it’s normal to blush if you’re very excited or experiencing strong emotions such as embarrassment or anger. Certain foods, alcohol and medical conditions can also bring on a blush. In order to prevent blushing, you need to know your triggers.
Extreme Emotions
Blushing is often associated with anger and embarrassment, and can get worse when you start feeling embarrassed about the blushing. To turn off the cycle, the Uncommon Knowledge website suggests that as soon as you start to feel yourself blushing, drop your shoulders, relax your body and push your stomach out to try to relax your way out of the blush. You can also simply acknowledge the fact that you’re blushing instead of hiding it, or learn to accept that it's just what your body does. The website notes that you might want to give self-hypnosis a try to retrain your body's response system.
Food/Alcohol/Medicine
Medline Plus reports that hot or spicy foods and alcohol consumption can sometimes trigger blushing. If you often blush after eating or drinking, note what your particular triggers are and try to avoid them. Medline Plus also notes that some medicines used to treat diabetes and high cholesterol can trigger blushing. Talk to your doctor about your medications to see if there are alternative prescriptions you can take.
Rosacea
The American Academy of Dermatology reports that rosacea is a common disease that often starts with a tendency to blush easily. As it progresses, parts of the face can start to look red all the time. Redness may come and go in rosacea’s early phases, but if you don’t treat it, the disease can get worse and become harder to treat. A dermatologist can recommend a treatment program designed specifically for your case.
Menopause
The hot flashes that often accompany menopause can trigger blushing in women. To relieve hot flashes, the Cleveland Clinic recommends identifying and avoiding triggers such as “stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, tight clothing, heat and cigarette smoke.” Practice deep, slow abdominal breathing, get some exercise every day, and try to stay cool by wearing light layers of clothing and using fans during the day.
