While blushing is a normal body reaction, for some people, blushing can be an embarrassing problem that results in social disorders. Also known as flushing or red face, this condition can be the result of medical and psychological conditions far beyond your control. Understanding how and why blushing occurs --- and how to treat it --- can help you find relief.
Significance
Blushing occurs when the skin, typically the face, ears and upper neck, turns red, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This reaction is involuntary, meaning it is beyond your conscious control. When your involuntary system triggers this reaction, your blood vessels will dilate. The blood then rushes to the areas of the skin and causes the face to appear red and flushed. For this reason, those with fair skin may blush more noticeably. Additional complicating symptoms can occur, including sweating, trembling and dizziness.
Causes
From emotional to food triggers, skin blushing can result from a number of causes. These include extreme emotions, such as embarrassment or shyness, according to MedlinePlus. Consuming hot or spicy foods, drinking alcohol, having a fever or experiencing menopause also can cause skin blushing or flushing. A condition known as rosacea also can cause you to appear as if you are frequently blushing. Taking certain medications, such as those used to treat diabetes or high cholesterol, also may cause the skin to blush or flush.
Treatment
At-home treatments for blushing include avoidance of the cause of your blushing, according to MedlinePlus. For example, if spicy foods make you blush, consuming less spicy foods can help. If your blushing is due to eating high-temperature foods, allowing your food sufficient time to cool down also may help, according to "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II." Sucking on ice chips also may help to cool the skin.
Medical Intervention
If your blushing has started to interfere with your everyday life, consider seeking medical intervention to pinpoint potential causes of blushing, according to MedlinePlus. Your physician may ask you questions concerning the history of your condition, such as when did you first notice the symptoms occur and under what circumstances do they most often occur. If you have other symptoms, such as hot flashes, diarrhea or wheezing, that accompany blushing, these are important to share with your physician.
Medical Treatments
In some instances, at-home treatments may not be sufficient in treating your blushing symptoms. Sometimes blushing can be the result of social phobias or other mental conditions that may require medical intervention, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Your physician may recommend cognitive-behavioral therapies to help you cope with your blushing condition. This can help to relieve some of the social anxiety associated with frequent blushing. Medications also can be prescribed that reduce blood vessel dilation in the face, which can reduce the likelihood a person will blush.
References
- MedlinePlus: Skin Blushing/Flushing
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Skin Blushing/Flushing
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: Blushing
- "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II"; Sid Kircheimer; 1995
