MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Skin blushing/flushing

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Skin blushing/flushing

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Skin layers

Alternative names Return to top

Blushing; Flushing; Red face

Definition Return to top

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

Considerations Return to top

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 Return to top

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 Return to top

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 Return to top

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

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

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

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

Update Date: 10/27/2003

Updated by: Jeffrey Drayer, M.D., Dermatologist, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.