Flushing
It can be plenty embarrassing to look embarrassed--especially when your only faux pas is having a face full of hypersensitive blood vessels.
For unknown reasons, the tiny blood vessels in some people's faces make them frequent flushers. Vessels in the nose, cheeks and other facial areas react to the slightest provocation--a glass of wine, a blast of cold air or a cloud of steam. And when an embarrassing moment comes along, a blush for these flushers can last for hours.
It doesn't need to spoil your day. In fact, some people won't even notice if your face is turning red now and then. But if you're bothered by it, here are a number of ways to take some of the excess color out of your cheeks.
Avoid the triggers. The easiest way to foil flushing is to avoid the food and drink that often cause it, say experts. Alcoholic beverages, for example, can cause blood vessels to dilate, according to Jonathan Wilkin, M.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology and director of the Dermatology Division at Ohio State University in Columbus. So if you find that a glass of burgundy gives you crimson cheeks, switch to another beverage. And you may have to forget about ordering enchiladas with jalape–o peppers or other spicy foods. These foods contain ingredients that tend to dilate blood vessels, according to Dr. Wilkin.
Let your soup cool down. Food shouldn't be piping hot, says Dr. Wilkin. Consuming hot foods and beverages heats the blood that eventually makes its way to the hypothalamus, your body's thermostat. When your body gets the signal that something hot is on the loose, it responds by dilating the blood vessels near the skin's surface, causing a flush.
Suck on ice chips. "Some people can temporarily stop flushing by sucking on ice chips," says Dr. Wilkin. Holding ice chips in the mouth provokes a heat-opposing response.
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Don't quit caffeine cold turkey. The caffeine in cola, tea and coffee is a blood vessel constrictor. If you give up caffeine, blood vessels may overly dilate and bring on flushing. "If you want to wean yourself from caffeine, it's better to taper off a cup at a time," says Dr. Wilkin.
Wear a petroleum jelly face mask. "On wintry days, a thin shield of Vaseline on your face helps prevent the flushing that occurs when blood vessels dilate in response to the cold," according to dermatologist Joseph Bark, M.D., past chairman of the Department of Dermatology at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. On warm days, he adds, a layer of sunscreen can block the warmth that triggers flushing. Also, limit your time outdoors on really hot or cold days, and don't overdress or underdress.
Treat your cheeks like fine silk. Avoid any products that cause redness or stinging, such as harsh soaps and hair sprays, says Jan Garver, R.N., nurse manager in the Dermatology Clinic at Ohio State University in Columbus.
Take a pill before showering. For some people, hot or cold water on the skin can turn it a rosy red that does not easily fade, according to Paul Lazar, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. If you want to avoid being red-faced in the morning, take an antihistamine 30 minutes before bathing and you'll keep water-triggered blushing at bay. Because antihistamines have been known to cause drowsiness, you may want to plan your day accordingly.
Just say no to niacin. Flushing is a common side effect of certain over-the-counter supplements, according to Dr. Wilkin. Niacin supplements, for example, "can make you flush horrendously," he says.
Use greenish makeup. If you have persistent blushing, neutralize a red face with sheer, green-tinted, cover-up makeup, specially formulated for red-faced people, says Dr. Wilkin.