Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Treatment of Blushing
Treatment for blushing depends on the cause. If blushing is part of an underlying condition such as the menopause or certain skin disorders (such as acne rosacea), then it is best to make sure this cause is diagnosed and treated appropriately.
Teenagers usually grow out of blushing, when it has been caused by anxiety, nervousness and hormonal activity.
If blushing is caused by nervousness or social phobia, then there are psychological treatment options, including:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy – to change the way people think or feel in social situations
- Breathing techniques – to relieve anxiety and hyperventilation (excessive rapid breathing)
- Confronting fears – professional treatment for the sources of anxiety.
Drug treatments may include:
- Anxiety medications – to calm the person and reduce incidences of blushing
- Beta-blockers – to manage the symptoms of anxiety such as heart palpitation
- Clonidine – a medicine that affects the chemical reactions that control the widening of blood vessels.
In cases of severe facial blushing, surgery may be considered. An endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) can be performed, in which the some of the nerves that cause the facial blood vessels to widen are cut.
Blushing can be camouflaged using a green colour-corrective moisturiser. Some types of product can be used under a foundation but others are suitable for use alone, so are particularly appropriate for men with blushing problems.
