Blushing is a normal response to a situation or event that arouses a sudden, involuntary rush of blood that reddens the face, neck and ears. However, excessive blushing can create fear and discomfort. An article posted on Private Health.co.uk entitled, "Excessive Blushing, What Can I Do About it?" states that blushing is a normal physiological response, but excessive blushing can create anxiety and embarrassment, leading to a medical condition called erythrophobia, or fear of blushing.
Definition
Excessive blushing is frequent, uncontrollable blushing that may be accompanied by intense fear and embarrassment, increasing anxiety and rapid heartbeat and sometimes sweating. Excessive blushing can be mentally and socially debilitating, causing an individual to restrict and/or avoid social interactions with others. This condition can interfere with workplace productivity and relationships in all areas of life, eventually leading to social isolation.
Causes
The causes of excessive blushing may be physical or emotional. A common cause is an individual's extreme hypersensitivity to the feeling that others are always watching and making judgments about him. According to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, other causes include eating hot or spicy foods, the use of alcohol and the hormonal changes of menopause, which cause hot flashes and facial flushing. A rapid change in temperature and certain medications may also cause excessive blushing.
Treatment
Treatment for excessive blushing will depend on the cause. If the condition is not due to a physical cause, the treatment goal will be focused on allaying anxiety and building confidence and self-esteem. Counseling and behavior-modification techniques may be used to help in coping when blushing occurs. Beta blocker medications may be prescribed to reduce the anxiety related to excessive blushing as well.
Surgical Treatment
The surgical treatment for excessive blushing is an endoscopic sympathectomy procedure (ETS). By clamping off or destroying the sympathetic nerve located in the chest cavity that controls the flow of blood to the face, blushing or reddening of the face is prevented. ETS is considered to have an 80- to 90-percent success rate according to Blushing Free. The procedure is performed by a vascular surgeon, is minimally invasive and takes about 40 minutes.
Considerations
There are side effects associated with ETS that may include loss of feelings on the face and areas above the shoulders. A decrease in the amount of sweating in these areas may occur, hampering the cooling off of skin during the warm summer months. In some cases the areas in the groin, thighs and on the back may also be affected. Other side effects may include pain after the procedure and the risk of damage to the heart or lungs.
