What Causes Blushing?

Blushing is triggered by emotions which send blood to your face, causing your cheeks to turn red. There are several conditions that may make you look like you are blushing when you are not. Cold weather can turn your cheeks red, but so can lupus or an allergic reaction.

Learn about what’s making you blush and when to see your doctor about it.

Strong Emotions

Intense feelings like stress, anger, or embarrassment can cause the blood vessels in your face to widen. This is a normal reaction of your nervous system but can be severe if you have anxiety.

If your emotions make you feel flushed, you could also notice:

• Sweating
• Feeling of heat in your face

If blushing is a frequent and embarrassing problem for you, you can get help for it. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches you to be more aware of your thoughts and feelings, can help control this type of blushing. Your doctor could also prescribe medicine that improves your body’s response to stress.

Menopause

Around the time that a woman’s periods stop for good, they can have hot flashes. These sudden rushes of heat happen because of changes in hormones and in the part of the brain that controls body temperature.

Hot flashes are often most intense on your face, neck and chest. You could also have:

• A faster heartbeat
• Sweating
• Red, blotchy skin
• Chills once the hot flash ends

You can try to sip a cool drink, take deep breaths, or dress in layers that you can remove when you get warm. If that doesn’t help, talk to your doctor about hormone therapy or other drugs that could offer relief.

Eczema

Also known as atopic dermatitis, this skin condition can cause an angry-looking rash on your cheeks. While this may look like blushing occasionally, it isn’t. It has nothing to do with dilated blood vessels. It doesn’t come and go within minutes like blushing. It is a rash.You most often see this in infants.

Other signs can include:

• Itching
• Very dry or scaly skin

While there’s no cure for eczema, your doctor can prescribe medicines that soothe your skin and ease any swelling. In babies, it sometimes goes away on its own. If not, it can get milder as you age.