Fever
Blushing
Heat
Endocrine disorders
Lupus
Medications
Alcohol
Rosacea
Carcinoid syndrome
Thyroid cancer
Menopause
Mast cell activation syndrome
Flushed skin can be a visual sign of embarrassment, anxiety, or being too hot.
Frequent flushing can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
Flushed skin occurs when the hundreds of tiny blood vessels just beneath the skin dilate or widen.
When these blood vessels expand, they rapidly fill with more blood, making the skin appear red, pink, or darker than the surrounding area.
This effect is more noticeable in regions of the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin, such as the cheeks and chest.
Flushed skin is typically no cause for concern and is often short-lived.
This article covers the most common causes of facial flushing.
Fevers are a common sign of an infection and often occur alongside additional symptoms, including skin discoloration and flushing.
A person has a fever if their body temperature rises above 38°C (100.4°F)
Strong emotional responses can cause facial flushing, also called blushing.
Emotions that may cause this increase in facial blood flow include:
stress anger embarrassment anxiety
When a person becomes too hot, their blood vessels widen to cool down the body.
This response can also cause flushed skin.
Exercise, intensive physical activity, or sudden changes in temperature can all have this result.
Facial flushing that results from exercise or being in a hot environment is usually not a cause for concern.
Flushed skin that occurs with certain other symptoms can be a sign of a heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
The endocrine system consists of glands that produce hormones, which are chemical messengers that send information from one area of the body to another. Hormones travel through the bloodstream and help regulate various bodily functions.
Any endocrine disorder that produces high levels of hormones that affect the following may cause flushing:
stress blood pressure blood vessel widening
A butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge of the nose and both cheeks is a hallmark of lupus.
Learn more about lupus and its symptoms.
Certain medications can cause flushed skin as a side effect: some antibiotics calcium-channel blockers vasodilators nitrates nicotinic acid tamoxifen thyroid-releasing hormone opioids, such as morphine
Alcohol raises blood pressure and causes the blood vessels to expand, which can cause flushed skin.
The more alcohol a person consumes, the more likely they are to notice their skin flushing.
Flushed skin after drinking alcohol is not usually a cause for concern.
Rosacea a long-term skin condition that usually occurs on the face and can cause:
redness or discoloration pimples visible blood vessels other skin problems
Rosacea often begins with flushing, and each bout of flushing may last a little longer than the previous one.
The cause of rosacea is not clear.
Common triggers include:
stress sun exposure hot or cold temperatures specific foods or drinks certain medications
Carcinoid syndrome Carcinoid syndrome is a rare condition that can cause flushed skin on the face and chest. The syndrome occurs in around 10%Trusted Source of people with a carcinoid tumor.
Thyroid cancer can change the behavior of the thyroid gland, which can affect hormone production and may cause flushing.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma is the type of thyroid cancer most likely to cause flushing, but it accounts for just 4% of thyroid cancers.
In menopause, changing hormone levels can affect blood flow and cause bouts of flushing called hot flashes.
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a condition that can cause a person to experience symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as:
hives flushed skin difficulty breathing
Flushed skin is usually harmless.
Facial flushing happens when the blood vessels below the skin fill with more blood than usual.
There is always a reason for skin flushing, with common causes include heat or exertion, emotional responses, and reactions to ingested substances.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that certain B vitamin deficiencies or excesses may increase the risk of facial flushing: vitamin B3, also called niacin, helps regulate blood vessel dilation, and an imbalance may affect these processes.
The flu virus, dengue fever, and any other virus that causes a fever can cause facial flushing.
Treatments for flushed skin can depends on the underlying cause.
Why is my face flushed and hot?
Exercise and exposure to heat can cause the face to feel flushed and hot.
Facial flushing occurs equally in people with and without high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Some factors that temporarily raise blood pressure can also cause facial flushing: emotional stress, consuming alcohol, exercising, and exposure to hot environments.