Treatment for blushing, or the sudden reddening of the face, neck, ears and chest, depends at least in part on the cause. In most people, a facial blushing is symptomatic of social anxiety, embarrassment or feeling strong emotions, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society. In others, facial blushing may be a side effect of medication or a symptom of a medical condition. Typically, facial blushing subsides within a minute or two, notes the NZDS, but for those who experience it too readily, severely or for a longer duration, treatment may be desirable.
Step 1
Determine whether your facial blushing may be a side effect of medication you currently take. If so, stopping the drug and switching to an alternative treatment will stop your condition. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence outlines the major medications associated with facial blushing. Two treatments for diminishing bone density, calcitonin and raloxifene, may cause the condition. The breast cancer drug tamoxifen can too, as can buserelin, goserelin, leuprorelin and triptorelin for prostate cancer. Glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and calcium-channel blockers for angina or hypertension are also known to sometimes cause facial blushing.
Step 2
Practice relaxation techniques if facial blushing is an emotional response. Deep breathing exercises are effective for many people. Autogenic relaxation combines body awareness with visualization techniques and word repetition to calm the mind and body, explains MayoClinic.com. Visualization, or the picturing of serene images, is adequate on its own for some people. Progressive muscle relaxation involves systematically tensing and relaxing muscles. Techniques like these can help control physical responses to emotional stimuli, but they do require consistent practice to be used effectively on the spot.
Step 3
Ask a mental health professional for assistance controlling your emotional or anxiety-related facial blushing. Besides advising you on relaxation techniques, a professional can offer other help to stop your condition. For example, you can learn to change thought patterns that trigger blushing, explains NIHCE, and cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective solution for some people.
Step 4
Consult your doctor about facial blushing if you suspect it may be a symptom of a medical condition. The skin condition rosacea may be responsible. Carcinoid syndrome, a side effect of cancer of the neuroendocrine system, can also cause blushing, as can menopause, an excessive sweating disorder called hyperhidrosis and the cellular disorder mastocytosis, explains NIHCE. Follow your doctor's treatment regimen for any diagnosed condition.
Step 5
Ask your doctor about a bilateral endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. A study titled "Endoscopic Sympathectomy in the Treatment of Facial Blushing" reports that this surgical procedure effectively treats facial blushing in about two-thirds of patients. Most often used to stop excessive perspiration in people with hyperhidrosis, this operation permanently disrupts the sympathetic nerve chain. The surgery takes about an hour, and is performed under general anesthesia, according to MedlinePlus.
