Why do faces turn red when embarrassed

Have a quick, light explanation ready to go whenever you feel a blush coming on, Markway advised. That way, you explain your blush and stop being so inwardly focused. Move on by asking the other person a question about himself. Avoidance is a big problem with any kind of anxiety symptom, like blushing, Markway said. What are the odds of blushing happening?

People with anxiety tend to overestimate the odds. If it does happen, how bad is it going to be? Related: Author vents about anxiety, depression on viral 'So sad today' Twitter account. One study found people who turned red after making a mistake or social blunder were considered more trustworthy and judged more positively than those who did not.

Related: Blush, and you'll get away with anything, study suggests. Your sensitivity to what other people think and being the center of attention goes down as you get older, partly through experience, Leary noted.

You know how to handle those kinds of situations better than when you were a teenager. As a result, the veins in your face dilate, allowing more blood to flow through them than usual, creating the reddened appearance that tells others you're embarrassed.

In other words, adrenaline causes more local blood flow in your cheeks. This sounds reasonable enough, but it's interesting to note that this is an unusual response from your veins. Other types of blood vessels are responsive to adrenaline, but veins generally aren't. In other regions of your body, veins don't do much when adrenaline is released; the hormone has little or no effect on them. A person tends to be embarrassed for many reasons, often related to criticism, rejection, anticipation, social anxiety, low self-esteem and self-perceived inadequacy.

The three main problem areas for people with fear of blushing are the blushing itself, avoidance of situations because of anticipated blushing, and negative beliefs about how their blushing is viewed by others. Feeling flushed is such a natural response to sudden self-consciousness that if it weren't part of an emotionally crippling experience, it could almost be overlooked. When asked, people say they are concerned about being judged negatively because of their blushing.

They believe that blushing is interpreted mostly as proof of weakness, dishonesty, immaturity, and so forth. Furthermore, they feel that due to the visibility of blushing, they are not able to present themselves socially in a positive way. If you examine the phenomenon of blushing objectively, it appears a bit strange.

What possible purpose could there be for more blood to flow through your cheeks when you feel embarrassed? Blushing has been determined to be universal among, as well as exclusive to, humans. Why would we develop a specific process that physically displays our embarrassment?

Where did blushing come from? One theory proposes that blushing evolved as a means of enforcing the social codes to which we humans must adhere for our societies to function in a friendly manner. By blushing when we're embarrassed, we are showing others that we recognise we've just mis-stepped socially, and that we're paying the price for it.

Others who see us blushing after an awkward situation understand from experience the unpleasant feelings we're undergoing at that moment, and blushing may serve as a non-verbal, physical apology for our mistake.

Blushing appears to develop in humans at an early age, around the time we enter school and we begin to engage in social situations with others.

Blushing from embarrassment develops alongside our consciousness of others. This lends further support to the notion that blushing has a purely social basis. Blushing may have developed as a means for displaying genuine regret over an insult to someone else. Home Skin. Blushing and flushing. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.

On this page. About blushing and flushing Symptoms of severe blushing Situations where severe blushing can occur Hyperhidrosis excessive sweating Diagnosis of the cause of blushing Medications for blushing Laser treatment for blushing Surgery for severe blushing Other treatment options Where to get help.

About blushing and flushing Facial blushing is an involuntary reddening of the face due to embarrassment or stress. Symptoms of severe blushing The symptoms of severe facial blushing can include: Intense blushing, often for no apparent reason Sensation of heat in the face Perspiration. Situations where severe blushing can occur Just about any situation at all can bring on intense blushing for example, the trigger can be as simple as casual conversation with friends and it may take one or two minutes for the blush to disappear.

People who have social phobia are particularly prone to blushing Hyperhidrosis excessive sweating Hyperhidrosis means excessive sweating.

Medications for blushing Medications to help treat facial blushing can include: Beta-blockers are drugs that can help manage some of the symptoms of anxiety, such as blushing and heart palpitations. Clonidine is a medication that is sometimes used to treat uncontrollable facial blushing. Botox injections into the skin of the face will temporarily paralyse the nerves in the skin that cause blushing. The effects may last up to six months.

Laser treatment for blushing Laser treatment may help facial flushing. Possible complications of laser treatment include: Redness, swelling, that subsides within an hour or 2 Bruising or purpura that subsides over 1 to 3 days Blisters that subside over 2 to 5 days. Increased pigmentation that appears after 2 to 4 weeks and gradually fades. Surgery for severe blushing Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy ETS is an operation to cure severe facial blushing.

Other treatment options Involuntary blushing is common to people who have a social phobia. Where to get help Your GP doctor Surgeon.