Flushing on your cheeks and skin is normal during and after a workout. When you exercise, your body is performing a variety of tasks at an accelerated rate, creating heat. Because your body works to maintain an even internal temperature, several mechanisms are used to cool you down. One such mechanism is to send blood as close to the surface as possible, resulting in redder skin.
Muscles Provide Heat
Performing any type of exercise requires the coordinated efforts of your muscles and skeletal system. Muscle contractions occur rapidly -- the harder your workout, the harder your muscles work -- and give off heat as a byproduct. This process, called thermogenesis, accounts for about 85 percent of your body heat. Shivering is an example of your body's attempt to produce heat to stay warm. However, to maintain a normal internal temperature, the heat generated by muscles during a workout needs to be dissipated and your body cooled.
Cooling Your Blood
The amount of blood that flows through your tissues is based on the metabolic need of those tissues. At rest, your muscles do not use as much blood -- only 20 to 25 percent of your capillaries are open. During exercise, the rate of flow through your muscles can be 15 to 20 times greater than resting muscles. In addition, 100 percent of your capillaries are open. When you first begin moving, blood is transported away from your skin and internal organs. Once you begin to heat up, however, your body sends blood to the vessels in your skin for cooling. This action causes your skin to turn pink or red, and much of your internal heat is released.
After Exercise
When you stop exercising, your heart rate begins to fall. The amount of blood pumped around your body slows, but you begin to sweat more. Sweating is another way the body cools itself. With the decrease in blood pumped to the skin, your body releases more sweat to continue the cooling process. The flush in your skin might begin to decrease at this point, depending on the temperature and the intensity of your workout. Flushed skin on your face and body is a normal consequence of exercising.
Other Indications
Though a red face is normal after a run, redness that does not go away or is not influenced by exercise or temperature might indicate a possible medical condition. Rosacea, fever, carcinoid syndrome, certain medications and menopause are other causes of a flushed face or body. Talk to your doctor if your skin's redness persists long after your body has cooled off.
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