Blushing is a common problem that can be embarrassing and affect your day to day life. There are things you can do to help stop it.
try to relax and do breathing exercises to help reduce stress and anxiety
keep cool by removing a layer of clothing and drinking water
wear make-up that reduces the redness of your skin in stressful situations like an interview or when giving a presentation
do not eat spicy foods or drink alcohol or hot drinks if they make you blush
Lots of different things can cause blushing. It's often caused by feeling embarrassed, hot or anxious.
Sometimes other symptoms you have might give you an idea of what's causing it.
Symptoms | Possible causes |
---|---|
A red face most of the time, small blood vessels can be seen under your skin, spots | Rosacea |
Hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low mood, reduced sex drive | Menopause |
Sweating a lot, particularly in your armpits, hands, feet, face and groin | Excessive sweating |
Swelling in your neck, anxiety and irritability, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, tiredness | Overactive thyroid |
Some medicines can also cause blushing. Check the side effects of any medicine you're taking to see if blushing or flushing is listed.
Treatment for blushing will depend on the cause.
For example, your GP may suggest:
Very rarely, surgery may be an option if blushing is severe and other treatments have not helped. But this can cause serious and long-lasting side effects.