The nervous system
The small muscles in the blood vessels are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, the network of nerves in the body that produce automatic reactions. You do not have any control over the autonomic nervous system.
Sometimes, blushing is caused by the autonomic nervous system working too hard and it can be affected by factors such as heat, illness and emotions.
Some people blush more easily than others. It may be because you feel embarrassed, guilty or angry or it might be due to another cause, for example, some people become flushed after eating spicy food
Medication
Certain types of medication can cause blushing. These include:
- tamoxifen, which is often used to treat breast cancer
- raloxifene, which is often used to treat osteoporosis (a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle)
- calcium-channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and angina (a condition that causes chest pain due to a restriction in the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart)
- calcitonin, which is sometimes used to treat bone disorders, such as osteoporosis
- glyceryl trinitrate and isosorbide dinitrate – which are sometimes used to treat angina
A number of medications that treat prostate tumours in men can also cause blushing. These include:
- buserelin
- triptorelin
- goserelin
- leuprorelin
If you are taking a medication that causes blushing, and it is causing you significant problems, discuss this with your GP. They may be able to recommend an alternative medication for you to use.
Medical conditions
Sometimes, blushing can be associated with other medical conditions, such as:
- rosacea - a common skin condition that affects the face
- carcinoid syndrome - a number of symptoms that can occur alongside a type of cancer that is known as carcinoid
- erythrophobia (a fear of blushing) - linked to social phobia
- menopause
- mastocytosis - a disorder which is caused by having too many mast cells in the body
Other triggers
Other possible triggers of blushing include:
- drinking alcohol
- eating hot or spicy foods
- drinking hot drinks
- a high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above
- sudden hot or cold temperatures
- exercise that causes an increase in body temperature
- monosodium glutamate – a chemical that is sometimes added to food to improve its flavour
