Blushing

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Alternative names
Skin blushing/flushing; Flushing; Red face

Definition

Skin blushing or flushing is a sudden reddening of the face, neck and occasionally, upper chest.

Considerations
Blushing is a normal response when embarrassed, angry, feeling guilty, or experiencing some other strong emotion.

Flushing of the face may also be associated with certain medical conditions.

Common Causes

• extremes of emotion
  
• rapid changes in temperature
  
• hot or spicy foods
  
• rosacea
  
• high fever
  
• alcohol abuse or alcohol intolerance
  
• medications such as Diabinese (for diabetics) and niacin (for lowering cholesterol—sometimes contained in high-potency vitamins)
  
• menopause ("hot flush”—due to a drop in estrogen levels)
  
• carcinoid syndrome

Home Care
Eliminate any triggers that you can identify. Try to avoid hot drinks, spicy food, extremes of temperature, and bright sunlight.

Call your health care provider if

• there is continual and persistent flushing
  
• other symptoms, such as diarrhea, are present

What to expect at your health care provider’s office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your skin blushing/flushing in detail may include:

• location
  o Do you have facial flushing (blushing)?
  o Does it affect the whole body?
  
• quality
  o Are you having hot flushes?
  
• time pattern
  o Do you have flushing attacks?
  o How often do you have flushing or blushing?
  o Are episodes getting worse?
  o Are they getting more frequent?
  
• aggravating factors
  o Is it worse after alcohol intake?
  
• other
  o What other symptoms are also present?
  o Is there diarrhea?
  o Is there wheezing?
  o Are there hives?
  o Is there difficulty breathing?

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