Blushing occurs when tiny blood vessels beneath the skin's surface dilate in response to neurological changes in the body. It appears as a rapid reddening of the neck, ears, face and/or chest. In many cases, blushing is associated with stress and anxiety, but it may also develop as a side effect of certain medications or as a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as carcinoid syndrome or rosacea. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence states that blushing affects both men and women and is a normal response to sudden, strong emotions.
Step 1
Change your diet and lifestyle. According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, consuming alcohol or spicy foods can trigger blushing episodes in some people. High temperatures, exercise and eating foods that contain monosodium glutamate may also cause or contribute to blushing.
Step 2
Try psychotherapy to treat any psychological causes of your blushing, such as nervousness, anxiety or phobias. Cognitive behavioral therapy can teach you ways of identifying and dealing with unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy will also enable you to learn more effective methods of coping with stress.
Step 3
Take medication to treat blushing if psychotherapy does not help. Anti-anxiety medications and beta-blockers can help you manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of blushing episodes. Clonidine, a medication typically prescribed for high blood pressure, works to treat blushing by constricting the blood vessels involved in reddening the skin.
Step 4
Undergo an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy if you suffer from both blushing and excessive sweating. This surgical procedure works by cutting and cauterizing the part of the sympathetic nerves responsible for your symptoms. An endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is nearly always a permanent solution for blushing, according to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
