Learn about the causes of Blushing & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Blushing within New Zealand.
Blushing is a redness in the face, ears or neck that is occasionally accompanied by a hot sensation in the affected area. Blushing is caused by extreme contraction and relaxation of tiny muscles in the walls of the blood vessels.
Causes of blushing
The skin has a network of small blood vessels with tiny muscles within the walls. These muscles contract and relax but when the contraction is extreme, the blood vessels close down preventing blood from passing through them. This makes the skin go pale and white. When the muscles finally relax, blood passes through making the skin turn red.
This process is controlled by the autonomic nervous system which we
have no control over. The system can be affected by illness, heat and
emotions. Anger or embarrassment can often trigger blushing as can
excitement. Moving from cold to hot environments can cause blushing as
can eating food that is spicy. In severe cases of blushing, the
condition is referred to as idiopathic craniofacial erytherma.
Other conditions that cause blushing include:
Symptoms of blushing
Blushing is usually a symptom of an underlying condition such as
menopause or rosacea. Blushing is also related to hormonal activity in
teenagers or when someone is feeling anxious or nervous. The skin turns
red, usually in the cheeks or neck, and you can begin to feel hot.
Redness in the skin can be accompanied by sweating.
As someone
blushes, they can become self-conscious about their blushing which
makes the problems worse. If certain triggers such as spicy food or
alcohol cause your blushing then you should avoid them whenever
possible.
Diagnosis of blushing
Blushing is a normal response by the body to certain stimulus or
feelings however persistent blushing can cause psychological distress.
If
blushing is caused by social phobias or extreme nervousness there are
psychological treatments which can help. First you should visit your GP
and explain the problem. The doctor will check for any physical
problems which may be the cause before referring you to a psychological
specialist.
In some cases, corrective surgery can be performed
(usually when blushing is accompanied by excessive sweating) however
there are complications which can arise such as haemothorax (blood
gathering between the lungs and chest cavity or Horner's syndrome
(drooped eyelids and sunken eyes).
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk