Skin Blushing and Flushing: Pictures, Causes, and Prevention

Skin flushing happens because of increased blood flow. It may happen due to skin conditions such as rosacea, illnesses, menopause, and certain medications.

Sudden redness or discoloration in your face or upper body can be concerning, especially if you aren’t experiencing other unusual symptoms. But the onset of skin flushing, or blushing, isn’t necessarily a serious problem, especially if it’s not a recurring issue.

How do you know whether skin flushing or blushing is a sign of a more serious medical concern? Learn more about the most common causes of this sudden skin discoloration and when to contact a doctor.

What is skin flushing?

Skin flushing, or blushing, happens due to increased blood flow. Whenever more blood flows to an area of skin, such as your cheeks, the blood vessels enlarge to compensate. This enlargement is what gives skin the “flushed” effect.

Due to this increased blood flow, you may feel warmth around your neck, upper chest, or face.

On lighter skin tones, this flushing may result in patches of visible reddening. On darker skin tones, flushing may not result in reddening of the skin but may instead cause discoloration or darkening of the affected area.

Flushed skin is a common physical response to:

• anxiety
• stress
• embarrassment
• anger
• other extreme emotional states

Facial flushing is usually more of a social worry than a medical concern.

However, flushing can result from an underlying medical issue, such as Cushing syndrome or a niacin overdose. Check with a healthcare professional if you have recurring skin flushing or blushing.

What symptoms may occur with flushing?

The symptoms associated with skin flushing may vary due to its underlying cause. Some may be temporary or manageable at home, while others may relate to more severe conditions that require medical attention.

In general, the many causes of skin flushing or blushing tend to cause the following:

• skin discoloration in your face,

  neck, chest, or upper trunk

• feelings of warmth or sweating in the affected areas
• rapid onset of the above symptoms

Other possible causes of facial flushing

There are many specific causes of facial flushing, such as heightened emotional states or eating spicy foods. Several medications and medical conditions may also cause skin flushing.

Medications

The AAD says that several medications can cause flushing as a side effect. These include drugs that treat inflammation, high blood pressure, anxiety, and other conditions. These medications may include:

• corticotropin-releasing hormone
• doxorubicin (Lipodox, Doxil)
• glucocorticoids
• vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin (Rectiv, Nitro-Time, Nitrolingual)
• calcium channel blockers
• morphine (Arymo ER, MorphaBond ER, MS Contin) and other opiates
• amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite
• cholinergic drugs, such as metrifonate, and anthelmintic drugs
• bromocriptine (Parlodel, Cycloset)
• thyrotropin-releasing hormone
• tamoxifen (Soltamox)
• cyproterone acetate (not available in the U.S.)
• oral triamcinolone
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• sildenafil citrate (Viagra, Revatio)

Talk with a doctor if you think any prescription or over-the-counter medication may contribute to your flushing symptoms. Never stop taking any medications without discussing them with a medical professional first.

Warning: Stopping medication

Never stop taking a prescribed medication without doctor guidance. Dangerous side effects can occur, depending on the medication.

Spicy foods

According to the AAD, consuming spicy foods, such as peppers or products derived from the Capsicum family of plants, can cause sudden skin discoloration and sweat on the face or neck. These include:

• cayenne peppers
• paprika
• chili peppers
• red peppers

Eating these foods may raise your body temperature, increasing blood flow and causing facial discoloration. Handling these types of foods can also cause skin irritation.

Emotional triggers

Extreme emotions, such as stress, anger, and embarrassment, can cause flushing in the face.

These emotions can also coincide with an acute increase in blood pressure. Still, high blood pressure itself is not a cause of flushing, according to the American Heart Association.

Other risk factors

Other possible causes of facial blushing include:

• drinking alcohol, especially red wine
• hot beverages
• high temperatures
• fever
• cold weather
• inflammatory conditions
• allergies
• certain cosmetics and skin products
• contact dermatitis

Treatment

Treating any underlying conditions causing your flushing is often the best remedy. For example, the NHS says that a doctor may recommend medications or a course of psychotherapy to reduce feelings of anxiety if that’s the cause.

However, home health options include avoiding specific triggers, such as:

• spicy foods
• hot beverages
• toxins
• bright sunlight
• extreme cold or heat

Removing yourself from high-stress situations may also help prevent flushing.

When to contact a doctor

It’s important to get immediate medical care for unusual symptoms of flushing. Also, contact a doctor if you’re having recurring episodes, since flushing can be linked to serious medical conditions.

A 2016 review suggests that doctors should take an inventory of symptoms to determine the underlying cause of flushing. The doctor may ask you about your symptoms’ frequency, duration, location, and the context during which they appear.

A medical exam and history will help supply the required information for a healthcare professional to make a diagnosis. Be sure to mention other co-occurring symptoms, such as diarrhea, shallow breathing, or hives, so the doctor may evaluate them.

If the doctor finds your symptoms are emotionally based, they may refer you to a psychotherapist. These professionals can teach you skills to help you cope with extreme emotional events and prevent flushing.

What are the complications of untreated flushing?

Flushing does not commonly result in serious medical problems but may cause feelings of embarrassment or social anxiety.

However, in some instances, a serious condition can be the underlying cause of flushing. Without treatment, the underlying condition can lead to complications.

How to prevent flushing

There is no definitive method for preventing flushing. However, you can do some things to reduce the risk of these episodes:

• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink: Some people are more prone to redness and warmth on the skin after drinking alcohol. In these people, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol is inactive, resulting in alcohol intolerance.
• Limit your handling and eating of spicy foods: You may benefit from avoiding foods derived from the Capsicum genus.
• Try to avoid extreme temperatures: Extreme temperatures and excessive bright sunlight may all result in skin flushing.
• Limit your niacin intake: The daily allowance recommended by the NIH is 14 to 16 milligrams for adults, unless a healthcare professional tells you differently.
• Employ coping skills: Regulating extreme emotions such as anxiety may help you to reduce the frequency of your blushing.

Summary

Skin flushing or blushing occurs when blood vessels near the skin surface enlarge to accommodate an increased blood flow.

When this happens, you may experience redness or other skin discoloration, as well as feelings of warmth in the affected areas.

Skin flushing can result from an underlying condition such as rosacea and hyperthyroidism. Or you may experience it during periods of extreme emotions, such as stress or embarrassment.

Typically, the condition is not a medical emergency and will resolve with time. However, if you experience repeated, severe flushes, contact your doctor for a full diagnosis.