Skin blushing/flushing

Alternative names:

blushing; flushing; red face

Definition:

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 other conditions where flushing occurs in the absence of embarrassment, or other precipitating factors. Menopause and carcinoid are two different types of condition associated with abnormal blushing.

Common causes:

• 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

Note: There may be other causes of skin blushing/flushing. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for skin blushing/flushing, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.