Why does my chest flush so easily?
February 13, 2011 2:51 PM Subscribe
My chest and neck are very prone to flushing. Emotional stress, itchy sweaters, and just about everything else cause bright red patches to appear. How can I control this?
When I'm in stressful, embarrassing, or even just mildly uncomfortable situations, my chest and neck develop bright red patches, almost like a rash or hives, that take anywhere from ten minutes to an hour to go away. It's very noticeable. People have asked me if I'm alright, thinking that I need to go have a cry or take some medication for my skin condition, when all I've done is talk to my academic advisor about plans after graduation, or given a presentation to my classmates.
This sometimes happens when I'm being teased by friends as well, so I'm not stressed, just a little embarrassed but still happy.
But even in stressful situations (ie, a job interview) I'm still able to overcome my nerves and be calm and articulate, but I'm very aware that a hot flush is spreading up my chest, and then the awareness of it makes it worse, and so on. It doesn't affect my ability to give a good interview, which I know because I've been told several times that I'm articulate and personable. I just look like a tomato from the chin down.
So it seems that any type of emotional stress causes this physical reaction. I don't have high blood pressure, but I do have poor circulation in my hands and feet. Is this the cause?
Possibly related: any exercise causes my face to flush bright red and get very hot, but my face never sweats. Other parts sweat just fine.
I'm fairly certain it's not rosacea, as there are no bumps or permanent effects. At least, really hope it's not.
If it's not an actual medical condition, how can I learn to deal with it and move on? Or is it just a question of confidence, which I'm assuming comes with time?
When I'm in stressful, embarrassing, or even just mildly uncomfortable situations, my chest and neck develop bright red patches, almost like a rash or hives, that take anywhere from ten minutes to an hour to go away. It's very noticeable. People have asked me if I'm alright, thinking that I need to go have a cry or take some medication for my skin condition, when all I've done is talk to my academic advisor about plans after graduation, or given a presentation to my classmates.
This sometimes happens when I'm being teased by friends as well, so I'm not stressed, just a little embarrassed but still happy.
But even in stressful situations (ie, a job interview) I'm still able to overcome my nerves and be calm and articulate, but I'm very aware that a hot flush is spreading up my chest, and then the awareness of it makes it worse, and so on. It doesn't affect my ability to give a good interview, which I know because I've been told several times that I'm articulate and personable. I just look like a tomato from the chin down.
So it seems that any type of emotional stress causes this physical reaction. I don't have high blood pressure, but I do have poor circulation in my hands and feet. Is this the cause?
Possibly related: any exercise causes my face to flush bright red and get very hot, but my face never sweats. Other parts sweat just fine.
I'm fairly certain it's not rosacea, as there are no bumps or permanent effects. At least, really hope it's not.
If it's not an actual medical condition, how can I learn to deal with it and move on? Or is it just a question of confidence, which I'm assuming comes with time?
Best answer: This happens to me, too, and a doctor once told me it was from adrenalin. It happens to my mom, too, so I assume it's hereditary. I've found that, for me, it helps to take ownership of it in situations where others may notice. For example, if I'm giving a presentation and I feel it happening, I say something like, "You'll see my neck and face flush; it's just adrenaline," then move on as if it's not an issue. And, of course, it's not an issue if you don't make it one.
To my knowledge, there are no medications for this, but I seem to recall reading once that there is a surgery that can help. I felt like that was overkill, though, and never even asked a doctor about it.
posted by arco at 3:07 PM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
To my knowledge, there are no medications for this, but I seem to recall reading once that there is a surgery that can help. I felt like that was overkill, though, and never even asked a doctor about it.
posted by arco at 3:07 PM on February 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
This may be totally unhelpful, but there's a Grey's Anatomy episode where a girl comes in with a similar condition and has the surgery arco is probably referring to. So it happens enough that it made it onto a medical drama.
I agree that acknowledging it might help you feel less embarrassed and avoid exacerbating the effect when it starts. I sometimes have intense flushing after exercise and I just acknowledge it to my companions and it makes me feel less self-conscious.
posted by parkerjackson at 3:18 PM on February 13, 2011
I agree that acknowledging it might help you feel less embarrassed and avoid exacerbating the effect when it starts. I sometimes have intense flushing after exercise and I just acknowledge it to my companions and it makes me feel less self-conscious.
posted by parkerjackson at 3:18 PM on February 13, 2011
Welcome to my life. Any strong emotion and my neck, chest, shoulders, and if it is really bad just HALF my face turn bright hot red. I'm very fair skinned, so when it happens it is very noticeable. LIke some sort of wonky short-term sunburn. As you can imagine when it happens I feel oh so pretty. :(
FWIW, I am a very confident woman, extroverted possibly to a fault and it still happens to me all the damned time. Sure, it happens more when I am anxious or in a heightened emotional state, but it happens at other times as well, sometimes with no obvious trigger. The women in my family all do it. What helps? Not much. I've been told that it can be caused by the body's sudden histamine release, so an antihistamine may help (hasn't made much of a difference for me).
My best suggestion is to embrace it. I have done my best to own it. I find it to be pretty unflattering when it happens but I have had many men say they like it, that it is endearing, blah blah blah. It also helps to acknowledge it and (for me) to make light of it. I'm a 'wear my heart on my sleeve' type of person, so when I feel the blush come on I will sometimes make some joke like "I think my body wants people to know I'm having an emotion!" or "See? even my skin agrees with what I am saying!".
posted by gwenlister at 3:27 PM on February 13, 2011
FWIW, I am a very confident woman, extroverted possibly to a fault and it still happens to me all the damned time. Sure, it happens more when I am anxious or in a heightened emotional state, but it happens at other times as well, sometimes with no obvious trigger. The women in my family all do it. What helps? Not much. I've been told that it can be caused by the body's sudden histamine release, so an antihistamine may help (hasn't made much of a difference for me).
My best suggestion is to embrace it. I have done my best to own it. I find it to be pretty unflattering when it happens but I have had many men say they like it, that it is endearing, blah blah blah. It also helps to acknowledge it and (for me) to make light of it. I'm a 'wear my heart on my sleeve' type of person, so when I feel the blush come on I will sometimes make some joke like "I think my body wants people to know I'm having an emotion!" or "See? even my skin agrees with what I am saying!".
posted by gwenlister at 3:27 PM on February 13, 2011
I think the surgery I read about was called Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, and it involves snipping or clamping a nerve. As I said, this sounded like a extreme solution to what I experience, but YMMV.
posted by arco at 3:42 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by arco at 3:42 PM on February 13, 2011
I am also a crazy-fierce blusher, and I have finally accepted this by making a joke of it. Whenever any makes notice of it, I calmly say that I blush when I breathe...which is pretty true, actually! Make it about your body, not the situation.
Incidentally, women of a certain age coo over it a bit, which I really, really don't get. Apparently flushing used to be thought charming or something.
posted by smirkette at 6:08 PM on February 13, 2011
Incidentally, women of a certain age coo over it a bit, which I really, really don't get. Apparently flushing used to be thought charming or something.
posted by smirkette at 6:08 PM on February 13, 2011
Best answer: This EXACT same thing happens to me. The worst thing about it is that it isn't an even flushing, it looks like I'm breaking out into hives. If it was just my cheeks or I was turning an overall shade of pink, that would be different. People look at me with concern because they think I am having an allergic reaction. It happens when I am nervous, excited, stressed out or just fired up about something. I can be alone at home reading an article or an email on the computer and something about it gets me amped up and before I know it, my neck and chest are covered in splotches.
I've talked to a few therapists and various Dr's about this condition and none of them had any solutions. My blood pressure is fine. I tried a couple of anti-anxiety medications, thinking they might help, but they did not.
I find that getting over-heated makes it worse. I wear a lot of high collared shirts, turtlenecks, scarves and giant necklaces. My mom's skin does the same thing. When I've noticed the splotchy blushing happening to other people, they are always women.
Weirdly, the one thing in my life that has totally eliminated the situation is getting pregnant. In my first 7.5 months of pregnancy, I have been splotch free. I even did a televised, public speaking event last month and my skin did not change colors, so there has to be some adrenaline/hormone connection.
posted by pluckysparrow at 7:27 PM on February 13, 2011
I've talked to a few therapists and various Dr's about this condition and none of them had any solutions. My blood pressure is fine. I tried a couple of anti-anxiety medications, thinking they might help, but they did not.
I find that getting over-heated makes it worse. I wear a lot of high collared shirts, turtlenecks, scarves and giant necklaces. My mom's skin does the same thing. When I've noticed the splotchy blushing happening to other people, they are always women.
Weirdly, the one thing in my life that has totally eliminated the situation is getting pregnant. In my first 7.5 months of pregnancy, I have been splotch free. I even did a televised, public speaking event last month and my skin did not change colors, so there has to be some adrenaline/hormone connection.
posted by pluckysparrow at 7:27 PM on February 13, 2011
Response by poster: pluckysparrow, this might be an overly personal question so feel free to not answer it, but did birth control affect the flushing at all? I'm wondering about the possible adrenaline/hormone connection, since you mentioned that pregnancy has affected it. I also have the "hives" look when I flush, it's not an attractive blush at all.
posted by lockstitch at 7:40 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by lockstitch at 7:40 PM on February 13, 2011
Hi lockstitch, I haven't taken hormonal birth control for over 15 years. It does seem like the onset of the really noticeable blotchy blushing started to happen when I turned 30. Prior to that, it was limited to when I worked out heavily or sometimes when I was drinking alcohol, which is somehow more excusable.
You have my complete empathy. I know how it feels to have your skin function as emotional barometer. A lot of people assume I am breaking out into stress hives...which is embarrassing and not totally accurate.
posted by pluckysparrow at 7:54 PM on February 13, 2011
You have my complete empathy. I know how it feels to have your skin function as emotional barometer. A lot of people assume I am breaking out into stress hives...which is embarrassing and not totally accurate.
posted by pluckysparrow at 7:54 PM on February 13, 2011
My girlfriend gets this from time to time. Since embracing it has been much less severe, as she doesn't get as anxious when it starts. And she also found avoiding fatty foods and eating healthy foods helped a lot.
posted by Raff at 3:13 AM on February 14, 2011
posted by Raff at 3:13 AM on February 14, 2011
This happens to me, all the time. Or it used to, until I started taking Propranolol. It's awesome. I can honestly say that it has changed my life.
I haven't noticed any ill-effects, I just take it about an hour before I know I will have to speak/perform/etc. I still have episodes like you describe if I'm spontaneously in a situation where I'm embarrassed or highly emotional, but they seem to have lessened in intensity since I started taking medication. If you want more details feel free to memail me.
posted by stellaluna at 10:57 AM on February 14, 2011
I haven't noticed any ill-effects, I just take it about an hour before I know I will have to speak/perform/etc. I still have episodes like you describe if I'm spontaneously in a situation where I'm embarrassed or highly emotional, but they seem to have lessened in intensity since I started taking medication. If you want more details feel free to memail me.
posted by stellaluna at 10:57 AM on February 14, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Of course it's a dead giveaway for how you feel in the moment. I don't have any solutions. I think you just have to learn to live with it. But you're not alone!
posted by vincele at 3:05 PM on February 13, 2011