Why does your face turn red?

Is it a passing flush or lasting redness?

Flushing starts suddenly and can affect your cheeks, neck and upper chest. You can feel warmth and sweat as well as see a colour change. On lighter skin, flushing can look red to purple; on darker skin, it can look like slight darkening rather than obvious redness.3

What commonly triggers a red face?

Common triggers include hot drinks, spicy food, alcohol, exercise, heat exposure and rapid temperature changes. Embarrassment, anger, excitement and other strong emotions can also cause blushing. Fever and menopause can cause flushing too. Some medicines, including certain treatments for diabetes and high cholesterol, are another possible cause.1

Keep a record of when redness starts, what happened beforehand, how often it happens and whether episodes are getting worse. Note whether it affects only your face or other areas, and whether other symptoms occur. A trigger diary can be ordinary notes on your phone, with no leather binding required. These details help a clinician assess the pattern.1

What can you do during a flush?

1. 1Cool down. Remove a layer of clothing if you are hot, drink water or put a cool compress on your face or neck.
2. 2If emotions triggered the flush, make yourself comfortable. Breathe in through your nose and slowly out through your mouth to help reduce stress.
3. 3Avoid repeating a known trigger. Choose a nonalcoholic drink or milder food if alcohol or spicy food reliably makes you flush.

Temporary flushing usually settles without treatment. Your colour can return to normal within a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the cause. Emotion related flushing can ease as you relax; alcohol related flushing can take a couple of hours as its effects wear off.3

Could it be rosacea?

Rosacea often starts with flushing easily, especially during stress, after alcohol or spicy food, or when you become warm. Redness commonly affects the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. At first it can come and go, then last longer or become permanent. That pattern is a reason to arrange a dermatology appointment, not a diagnosis by itself.4

Other signs of rosacea include:

• Small visible blood vessels and breakouts that resemble acne.
• Burning or stinging when washing your face or applying skincare, sunscreen or makeup.
• Redness or sensitivity that worsens after sun exposure.
• Swelling around the eyes, forehead or cheeks, or skin that becomes thicker.
• Irritated, watery or dry eyes, with bloodshot eyes or red, swollen eyelids.

You do not have to develop every sign for rosacea to be possible. A dermatologist can identify the condition and offer treatment to reduce discomfort and prevent worsening. Eye problems need immediate care and can appear before skin symptoms.4

Could skincare be causing the redness?

Soap or hair dye can irritate facial skin; fragrance and latex can cause allergic contact dermatitis. A product you have used for years can still be responsible. Stop exposing your skin to the suspected cause: contact dermatitis tends to clear once the trigger is removed. If you cannot identify it, a dermatologist can help.2

Can medicines make your face red?

Check your medicine information for flushing or blushing among the side effects. Some medicines cause a reaction resembling sunburn after daytime sun exposure, so also check for instructions about avoiding sunlight. Using hydrocortisone, a steroid cream, longer than directed can cause a skin reaction. See a GP if you think a medicine is responsible.25

Why does your face turn red when drinking alcohol?

Alcohol can widen blood vessels, making your face, neck or chest warm and red. Two possible reasons for repeated alcohol flushing are rosacea and difficulty breaking down alcohol. Your liver turns alcohol into acetaldehyde, a harmful substance. Without enough of an enzyme called ALDH2, acetaldehyde builds up; nausea or vomiting can accompany the flush.6

For an ALDH2 deficiency, limiting or avoiding alcohol is the way to prevent the reaction. Medicines that hide flushing do not address the harmful acetaldehyde buildup and are not usually recommended for this purpose. Stop drinking if you develop this reaction. With rosacea, different drinks can trigger different responses, so record which ones cause flushing.6

Why does your face turn red when exercising?

Exercise is a common flushing trigger. The redness reflects increased blood flow, and vigorous workouts can bring on a temporary colour change. Cool your body down and notice whether the redness settles. Flushing that persists, happens increasingly often or comes with other symptoms deserves medical assessment rather than being automatically attributed to exercise.13

Why does your face turn red when crying?

Strong emotions can cause both crying and blushing, so emotional flushing can explain a red face during a cry. This is a general explanation, not a sign that tears themselves cause the redness. Crying can also involve changes in breathing and facial movements. Not all tears are emotional: eye irritation can trigger protective tears too.17

When should you see a doctor?

• Book a dermatology appointment if facial redness lasts more than two weeks.
• See a clinician for frequent or persistent flushing, especially with vomiting or diarrhea, or without a clear trigger.
• Get prompt medical care for a painful, blistering facial rash. Shingles on the face can damage eyesight without treatment.
• See a GP if blushing affects your everyday life or you suspect a medical condition.

Treatment depends on the cause. For stress or anxiety related blushing, a GP can suggest cognitive behavioural therapy, a talking therapy, or medicines. Makeup can make redness less visible during stressful situations, which is a covering job rather than a detective job. Severe blushing sometimes leads to discussion of surgery, but serious, lasting side effects make it an option only after other treatments have failed.5