Skin flushing is a common reaction that causes the skin to turn red or darken. Redness, also called flushing, occurs due to increased blood flow to the redness.
Redness most often occurs on the face, neck or upper body. Depending on the cause, skin redness may come and go or be constant. You may notice that it has certain triggers, or it may seem to occur randomly.
Although reddened skin is often not a cause for concern, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as a tumor. Diagnosing the cause of the redness can help you get the right treatment. Your primary care provider is a great place to start for a diagnosis.
Skin redness can look and feel different depending on the cause. Skin redness generally looks like skin redness. For people with darker skin, it may look like a dark brown or purple color. Redness of the skin usually occurs on the face, neck, ears, arms or chest.
Along with this visible change, you may feel warmth in the affected area. The area may also itch, burn, develop hives, or thicken over time.
Redness of the skin occurs when the blood vessels dilate and fill with more blood, causing the skin to change color. There are several possible causes of this increased blood flow. Redness of the skin is often caused by signals from the nervous system or substances that act directly on blood vessels.
Flushing related to the nervous system can have causes such as fever, heightened emotions or nervousness, and hormone changes. These conditions often also cause increased sweating, so these flushing episodes are sometimes called wet flushing.
Redness associated with vasoactive substances can have causes such as rosacea and certain medications or foods. Sweating does not usually occur in these situations, so these episodes are sometimes called dry flushing.
1. Increased body temperature
Redness can be a sign that your body temperature is elevated. Body temperature can rise for reasons such as:
- Fever due to infection
- Overheating from exercise
- Direct exposure to heat
- Consumption of hot drinks
When your temperature rises above a certain point, you are likely to sweat along with flushing. Sweating is the body’s way of cooling you down and lowering your temperature.
2. Heightened emotions
Another common cause of reddened skin is an intense emotional response. When you feel a strong emotion, such as shame, excitement, anxiety, or anger, your nervous system releases stress hormones that can cause blood vessels to dilate. This leads to increased blood flow near the surface of the skin, which leads to redness.
Emotional flushing seems to be more common in women. It often occurs along with other signs of the stress response, such as dry mouth, confusion, and changes in heart rhythm.
3. Menopause
During menopause (the permanent end of menstruation), levels of the hormone estrogen decline, leading to the common symptom of menopause – hot flashes. More than half of women over the age of 45 experience hot flashes.
Hot flashes can cause an intense feeling of heat in the body, reddening of the skin and sweating. Each hot flash usually lasts 3-5 minutes and can happen many times during the day. Waves often lead to anxiety and sleep problems.
4. Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness and flushing primarily on the face. It usually appears on the nose and cheeks, but it can spread to other parts of the face and ears, scalp, neck, chest or back.
Rosacea can lead to visible blood vessels, red bumps, thickened skin and irritation. Rosacea also often affects the eyes, causing dryness, burning, scaling, or discoloration around the eyes.
Rosacea can have similar triggers to temporary redness – such as stress, spicy food or extreme temperatures – but it lasts longer and can get worse over time.
5. Medicines
Many medications can cause skin redness as a side effect. Vasodilators, drugs used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions, most commonly cause flushing. Other medications that can cause flushing include:
- Niacin (nicotinic acid), a type of vitamin B
- Beta-blockers, which can help with irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and other cardiovascular problems
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which help control high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Steroid drugs, such as glucocorticoids
- Medicines for hormone therapy
- Reglan (metoclopramide), used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Medicines for chemotherapy
- Get drunk
Many other medications can also cause flushing when combined with alcohol.
6. Spicy food or alcohol
Certain food ingredients or additives can cause blood vessels to dilate, causing redness. Capsaicin in spicy foods is the dietary substance most commonly associated with flushing. Sulfites and nitrates – both often used to preserve food – can also cause redness.
Alcohol can cause flushing, in part because certain types of alcohol, especially red wine, contain high levels of sulfites. Acetaldehyde, a chemical that breaks down alcohol, can also increase blood flow and cause flushing.
Most people can break down acetaldehyde and flush it out of their bodies. However, some people, especially those of Asian descent, do not produce enough of the enzyme needed to do this. When they drink alcohol, acetaldehyde can build up in their body and cause extreme flushing.
Less common causes
Although the above causes are usually not a cause for concern, reddened skin can also indicate a serious medical condition that requires treatment. Health conditions that can cause flushing include:
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- Neurological disorders: Conditions that cause lesions (wounds) in parts of the nervous system can cause flushing. Examples include cluster headaches, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis (MS).
- carcinoid syndrome: This syndrome causes tumors to grow along the gastrointestinal tract and lungs. Tumors release hormones, such as serotonin, that cause blood vessels to dilate. As a result, about 90% of people with this syndrome have reddened skin.
- pheochromocytoma: This is a tumor that grows from the cells of the adrenal glands. It’s usually not cancerous, but it causes the adrenal gland to produce too many hormones, which can lead to reddening of the skin.
- Medullary thyroid cancer: In this rare type of cancer, the tumor grows from a specific type of cell in the thyroid gland. Tumor cells release hormones that cause the skin to redden.
- Tumors of the pancreas: Certain rare tumors can grow in the pancreas and cause blood vessels to dilate. About a fifth of people with these tumors have reddened skin. Their skin may also thicken or turn a bluish color.
- mastocytosis: In this condition, the body produces too many mast cells, a type of immune cell that causes inflammation. Mast cells then accumulate in the tissues and release chemicals that can lead to redness.
Most causes of skin redness are temporary and nothing to worry about. It’s natural for the body to initiate processes that lead to flushing when you feel stressed, embarrassed or overheated.
If your redness doesn’t go away or comes back frequently for no apparent reason, contact a healthcare professional so they can investigate the cause. Redness that occurs along with other symptoms (eg, diarrhea or stomach pain, skin changes, headache) may indicate an underlying medical condition.
The best treatment for a skin rash will depend on its cause. In temporary situations, such as strong emotions or a fever, the flushing will go away once the trigger situation is over. You can then avoid these triggers whenever possible.
If an underlying medical condition is causing the redness, you may need to treat that condition. Some underlying conditions are not dangerous, but their symptoms are distressing.
Some people find the redness and other symptoms of rosacea uncomfortable, while the hot flashes that result from menopause can significantly reduce quality of life. Your healthcare provider may recommend medication or a topical treatment to relieve symptoms in these cases.
More serious conditions that cause flushing, such as cancer or a neurological disorder, require treatment specific to that condition. Even benign (non-cancerous) tumors can have a negative effect on your body, so make sure you get an accurate diagnosis.
Although some causes of skin redness are difficult to avoid, there are a few things you can do to prevent it. Here are some tips:
- Keep a record of symptoms: Note when the redness appears and what you ate, drank, or did just before you noticed it. Pay attention to any other symptoms that occur with the redness.
- Avoid known triggers: If certain foods, drinks, or environmental factors cause redness, avoid them when possible to prevent a reaction.
- cool down: Wearing a small fan, using a cold compress, or splashing cold water on your face can help manage heat-induced redness when it occurs.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help regulate body temperature and prevent flushing.
- Wear sunscreen: Sun exposure can cause redness in people with sensitive skin. Daily use of sunscreen and wearing a hat or protective clothing can help protect the skin.
- Choose your skin care products carefully: For those with sensitive skin or conditions such as rosacea, gentle, fragrance-free skin care products can help avoid further irritation.
- Manage stress: Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce flushing caused by stress.
Erythema is redness or darkening of the skin. It’s a common symptom and can happen for a variety of reasons. Although flushing is often harmless, repeated or intense flushing can be uncomfortable and may indicate an underlying health problem.
If you have reddened skin that doesn’t seem to be related to strong emotions, being overheated, eating spicy food, or drinking alcohol, talk to your healthcare provider.