‘How do I stop myself from going so red in the face?’
It’s a condition that impacts countless Aussies but there is a remedy for chronic facial flushing.
Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week, Dr Zac Turner explains the possible causes for a red nose.
QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, I have a red nose and my husband says it’s because I drink too much alcohol – but I’ve actually cut back recently. He tells me that I look like Rudolph the red nose reindeer! What’s the cause? I lead a pretty healthy life and im not overweight. How can I get rid of it so I don’t get accused of being an alcoholic? – Elise, Townsville
ANSWER: Great question Elise! Let’s get to the bottom of this so your partner can stop teasing you.
Skin flushing, better known as blushing, happens because of increased blood flow. Whenever blood flows to an area of skin, such as your nose, the blood vessels enlarge to compensate. This is what gives the red effect. There are actually two different types of blushing: wet and dry.
Wet blushing is caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system. This is the body’s system for regulating glands and organs, and controls the diameter of blood vessels. For some people, this system is particularly sensitive to emotional stress. This is why some people get so red in the face and neck when they are embarrassed.
Dry blushing is caused by increased vasodilator chemicals in the bloodstream. These are natural substances found in your body that boost blood flow to areas of the body that are lacking oxygen or nutrients. Examples include nitric oxide, carbon dioxide as well as hormones such as adrenaline, acetylcholine, prostaglandins and histamine. This can also be set off by embarrassment
Alcohol is a common trigger for red flushing, it’s actually a condition called alcohol intolerance. It’s caused by an inherited deficiency of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) enzyme. This enzyme is needed to break down alcohol. Another common cause in women is Menopause, which leads to skin flushing and blushing.
I would recommend you reach out to a dermatologist if this flushing continues, as it could also be acne or Rosacea. This is a condition that’s hard to initially diagnose as the early symptoms are confused with blushing. It’s a progressive skin condition. This means that it may become worse without proper treatment. In rosacea, blood vessels in your face enlarge, allowing more blood to flow into your cheeks.
Other common causes of red skin flushing includes allergies, sunburn, viral rash or fever.
Unfortunately, our skin is an intricate organ. It’s highly complex and so prevention can be very fickle. You can always mitigate hot flushes by limiting alcohol intake, spicy foods and spending too much time in either hot or cold temperatures.
To control redness, you can follow these skin care tips:
• Wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Avoid scrubbing as this will irritate you even more.
• Experiment with a calming face mask, but stop using them if the redness gets worse.
• Avoid direct sunlight for extended periods of time. The sun will aggravate your already reddened skin.
• If you are headed to town or on a hot date, you can always use foundation or a green-tinted make-up to cover up the redness.
Elise, I highly recommend you speak to your GP or a dermatologist. They will be able to help you to solve your blushing problem.
Got a question? Email askdrzac@conciergedoctors.com.au
Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a registered nurse and is a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist along with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering