Developing flushed skin, known as vasodilation, is a common occurrence after exercising. Some people also experience irritation, burning or itching during and after vigorous cardiovascular exercise. Although flushed skin may be a symptom of certain medical conditions - such as rosacea or menopause -- red or blotchy skin after a workout constitutes more of an aesthetic concern than a medical problem.
Capillaries
As you move your large muscle groups during moderate to vigorous cardiovascular exercise, you breathe more quickly and more deeply. The increase of oxygen makes your heart rate increase. Your heart pumps blood to your muscles and then to your lungs. In response, you experience vasodilation, which is when your capillaries widen to allow oxygen to travel to your muscles. This process of dilation results in your skin appearing flushed or blotchy.
Rosacea
Strenuous exercise can aggravate rosacea, a condition characterized by frequent flushing and inflammation on the face, particularly your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. Doctors typically prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to help manage the condition, which has no cure.
Heat Release
Working out creates heat, and your body releases the heat by increasing the blood flow to your skin. The process can make your skin flush or get blotchy in the same way that hot weather can produce flushed skin, according to Net Wellness.org. There is no recommended treatment for exercise-induced flushing, but a cool compress or drink of water can help.
Expert Insight
You may notice more extreme flushing in your cheeks than anywhere else on your body. The blood vessels behind your cheeks are wider, closer to the skin's surface and have less tissue on top of them, Dr. Christian Nasr says on the Cleveland Clinic website.
Warning
The Family Doctor.org website say that some people develop hives when they exercise. This condition, known as Urticaria, may look like red blotches, bumps or blisters. They may occur on any part of your body. If you get hives while exercising, stop and see if they subside in a few minutes. If after 10 minutes you still have hives, or if you experience other symptoms, contact your doctor. Hives are typically an allergic reaction and doctors sometimes treat them with antihistamines.
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