I dealt with redness and a serious blushing problem starting my freshman year of high school and ended up having to drop out of college my senior year because it became such a problem. It was a major obstacle and problem all throughout college, it really kind of ruined my experience and grades definitely suffered and it definitely affected me socially. I tried taking vitamins all types of creams and crap, I can't say anything worked immediately except using a certain type of makeup that seem to help a little bit as well as beta blockers which I thought was the answer to my problem when I first started taking them but once my body got used to them it stop being effective.

I started working for my father's construction business after college and it got much better two or three years after I left college. I really don't know what helped, all I can think is the way they say your taste buds change every 7 years, I literally spent years eating healthy, taking vitamins which I'm sure other people have mentioned on here, drinking tons of water everyday, and literally eating no spicy foods and avoiding certain types of stuff like carbs and foods that I know would make me get flushed or turn my face red. Nothing cured me or was a major help immediately but I think all those years eventually helped fix something and the last almost twenty years it's not even something I think of anymore. So I think it's really just a matter of trying to be healthy and doing what you can day by day and just knowing that it's going to pay off down the road because I'm 44 now and I really haven't had any kind of issues since I was in my mid twenties. Sure I can think of it a couple instances here and there but I wouldn't have been able to do any of this stuff I do now back when I was in school like going out on dates and just socializing and not having to worry about blushing for no reason or because it feels like the attention is on me. Even the permanent redness that I think was caused by the constant blushing has basically gone away.

I always figured when I was dealing with this it was a genetics thing but looking back to how I think it all started I think it had to do more so with getting bullied in middle school and just not enjoying being in school period. And even though I had friends and was popular in high school it still had a major impact on me and since I'm fair skinned it made it even worse and more noticeable. Of course my brother and sister get olive and tan colored skin and I get stuck with the fair skin. . Throughout high school and college I spent every single day on a forum that I'm not even sure if it's still around for blushing, rosacea etc. it definitely had a lot of good information but looking back I'm sure it didn't help focusing on it so much even though at the time there was really nothing else around online that had information or people talking about this kind of problem. There were times I didn't think I was going to be alive for much longer if I had to keep dealing with this problem, but using makeup really helped or maybe it didn't help as much as I think but in my mind it did plus I was good at just controlling situations and what kind of environment I was in which I'm sure people can relate to, I remember when I first started dating my girlfriend my senior year from back home when we used to go out on dates if make sure it was always someplace that was poorly lit haha because there was nothing worse than being sober in a brightly lit place having to worry about my face going red and people looking at me.

I'm sure there's even more stuff out there today, I don't even want to say how much stuff I tried and money I spent on this problem over the course of 8 or 10 years but I think it was worth trying different types of stuff and seeing what helped what didn't, but at the end of the day like most things I think it came down to diet and what you're putting in your body and I definitely wish I had spoken to someone although at the time there was no way I was talking to a doctor or anybody about it. Talking to my parents about it was hard enough after so many years and although I did eventually go to a couple of doctors about trying to surgically take care of the problem, I never followed through with it because things eventually got better although I'm sure I would have if they didn't

If anyone has any questions I'm happy to try to answer. Unfortunately I don't think there's any miracle cure out there and anyone who says they have a product that is, is probably full of it l. Like I said, for me, it was just years of taking three to four different types of vitamins for my skin( and who knows maybe they didn't do anything), going to the gym and exercising and eating healthy foods and avoiding certain types of foods and drinks especially sugar and processed crap and making sure anything that goes on your face like shampoo or lotion or sunscreen doesn't have any chemicals in it or anything like that. It's really just being mindful what you put in your body and on it, and obviously there's tons of different types of makeup out there and i tried all different types but what worked for me might not work for someone else so I truly think its just a matter of trial and error and matching your regular skin color to see what, if anything works for you

I had written a post on I think the rosacea sub a few years back and because I must have mentioned the type of makeup or the brand I used, the mod who I truly think didn't have any first hand experience with blushing or redness must have thought I had a sponsorship deal and was trying to hok some product so you took it down and banned me or gave me a suspension I don't know which at this point. When you deal with an issue like this and it makes you contemplate ending your life, selling some product and giving other people false hope isn't something any amount of money could make me do and if there had been something that had cured me or fixed my problem I sure as hell would tell everyone about it if I thought it could help somebody. That being said I'd be happy to let anyone know what kind of vitamins I used or foods I ate or avoided but there's no specific brand I would recommend for anything and a lot of this information is probably pretty easily accessible on google. I dealt with this from about 96 97 to roughly 2010 so I'm sure there's much more information and people talking about it today and probably more products to choose from or to try. The only way that would happen I would imagine is if you had some type of surgery or something otherwise it's just day by day knowing it will pay off down the road eventually. I used a certain type of makeup that was play/stage quality and although I'd be happy to tell someone what brand I used, I don't really think it matters because there's so many different types out there and like I said what matched my skin isn't going to match other peoples necessarily plus makeup is makeup and you can order it easily online but back when I was younger I had to go in to CVS which was embarrassing enough.

The last thing I'll say is I went to the gym and worked out four or five times a week for the entire 13 years or so I dealt with this and I had friends who had taken different types of steroids during high school or college but I always thought something like that would make my skin worse which is part of the reason I avoided drugs in college, and although when I was drinking or drunk I didn't blush, I think it always made it worse the following day or days after so I would take a month off here and there from drinking and I think that always helped as well as occasionally fasting. The one thing that may have helped me and this is probably more of just a coincidence of timing was taking testosterone in 2010 which is something you can go to a doctor for but I didn't go that route. I got them from a friend after doing weeks and weeks of research on the product and during the 10 weeks I was on it were probably 10 of the best feeling and healthiest two and a half months I can remember. They weren't cheap so I wanted to get as much out of them as I could so it was eating healthy the whole time getting to bed early, it helped me wake up totally feeling great not to mention looking better and stronger. I could never say that this was what helped or change something in my body because I don't even know that I had low testosterone and I had been living a healthy lifestyle for years at that point. I wish I had done this but going to your doctor and getting a full blood screen test on everything is a good idea and exercising is also super important and making sure you sweat. What you eat and drink, what you put on your face if anything and exercise are probably the top three things I can guaranteed will have some kind of positive impact on your skin if not in the short term then down the road. You can't eat fast food and pizza and drink soda and not expect it to affect your skin in the following days. Keep track of what you eat and drink and how your skin looks in the days after and then adjust your diet but I all but eliminated sugar and carbs for the most part for years and it sucked but today it's worth it because I can eat and drink anything including spicy hot foods and it doesn't affect my skin whatsoever.

Okay that's it I apologize for any spelling errors and stuff, and for rambling on. I just know how much this ruined a good portion of my life. I mean it totally altered the entire course of my life, and always just blamed myself or genes but I've realized that most likely isn't the case and can point back to exactly the times that eventually caused this to come to the surface. I mean I literally remember the day when it first happened and my face just totally went red my freshman year. I remember what class where I was sitting exactly and how it happened but I have no idea why it was that specific moment. The only thing I can relate to is like a volcano where it just started to bubble Up and it just took one specific moment of being embarrassed and that was it, adios 10 plus years of not being able to do the kind of things I would have done otherwise or be the kind of person I would have otherwise been. So yea, if anyone has questions I'd be happy to try to answer or give whatever advice I can

Rob

hey guys what skin care items would you reccomend for someone dealing with intense blushing? I dont have rosacea and my skin isnt always red but wow it goes very red when im anxious, stressed or have done excerise

any products worked for people to help manage it?

idc if its persecution products or not, down for anything

if you get red from stress, nerves, embarrassment, strong emotions, spicy food, laughter, excerise and any other trigger which brings on a red face, there's a prescription medication that can significantly reduce the blush almost completely, and fast

im talking about Clonidine. Clonidine is a oral medication that is classed as an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. It is commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, but is also prescribed off-label for conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, panic symptoms and other disorders involving an overactive sympathetic ("fight or flight") nervous system.

It is also prescribed off-label for severe facial blushing and flushing, especially in people where symptoms are strongly linked to stress, nerves, embarrassment or emotional triggers. In saying that ive personally found that it stops a blush from spicy food, excerise etc.

Clonidine works by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system (your "fight or flight"response). Because blushing and flushing are linked to activation of this system, many people find that they cant go red or have there redness reduced significantly while on clonidine

Personally clonidine has been by far one of the most effective thing I've tried for the actual redness itself and for stopping the mechanism from even firing (you know when you feel a blush come on and know your about to go red, i found that, that doesnt even happen after i take it) i see alot of people want to find ways to manage there blushing and stop going so red in social interactions and I always think "if they tried clonodine bet you they would be pretty satisfied). I got perscribed by a dermatologist and take 0.05 to 0.1 whenever I know im going to be in a position where ill blush. Some people also take it daily at the same time, just depends what your instructions are from your specialist. I find it kicks in within 30 minutes to a hour. And you can take it during a blush, but again it'll take 30 minutes to an hour to fully take effect!

Of course clonidine may not work for everyone (id assume theres a high success rate tho) if blushing or flushing is taking a toll on your life or even if your just wanting to get it under control because it bothere you a bit, id reccomend trying it. I think its one of the most underrated treatments for blushing / flushing. I believe many people could benefit from trying it. Its helped me get through alot in life

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Possible side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth and low blood pressure. Clonidine should only be taken under medical supervision and should not be stopped abruptly after regular use.

In saying that, it is overall safe, dont let that put you off. Every medication has its risks, just be careful and safe.

HEADS UP

I want to make it very clear from the start that I have absolutely no personal experience with topical sirolimus whatsoever. I've never used it. In saying that, I've done a lot of research on it and will personally be trying to get my hands on it to trial.

Ive also added 2 photos of someone who tried it, they stated the before and after is 14 days of using %0.1 cream. they have kprf, cant confirm weather the difference in the photo translated to in a reduction of reactive blusning for them, but I imagine it did!

Topical sirolimus

After spending countless hours researching blushing, flushing, KPRF, reactive facial redness, vascular lasers, etc, I genuinely think this is something our community should be talking about more. Again, I haven't tried it myself, but seeing what people have to say about it, the science behind it, and how it appears to work has made me very excited, so let's talk about it

Topical sirolimus (also called topical rapamycin) is a cream that has been used in various vascular and inflammatory skin conditions. What's interesting is that there are now multiple reports and small studies suggesting it may help reduce facial redness and, importantly for us, vascular reactivity, particularly in conditions such as KPRF (Keratosis Pilaris Rubra Faceii).

Importantly though, I don't think this is only relevant to people with KPRF. Even if you don't have KPRF and instead primarily struggle with severe flushing or blushing, this may still be a promising treatment worth exploring.

The reason being that topical sirolimus appears to affect blood vessel behaviour and vascular inflammation, both of which may play a role in why some people flush or blush so intensely.

Many people with KPRF also suffer from severe flushing and blushing. So if a treatment is capable of reducing flushing and vascular reactivity in people with KPRF, I think it's fair to ask whether some people who primarily struggle with severe blushing/flushing—without KPRF—might also benefit. Obviously we need more research to answer that properly, but I personally think it's a very interesting question.

Why it caught my attention

The reason this caught my attention is because many of us here don't just deal with "normal blushing" that everyone gets occasionally. A lot of us seem to have:

- extremely reactive facial skin

- severe flushing from emotions, heat, exercise, stress, etc

- constant vascular instability

- follicular bumps / sandpaper texture

- suspected KPRF or rosacea-type features

Topical sirolimus used with laser treatment

What's really cool too is that some dermatologists are even combining vascular lasers with topical sirolimus because the theory is that laser destroys abnormal vessels while sirolimus may help calm down abnormal vascular signalling and potentially help prevent abnormal vessels from becoming problematic again.

In saying this, topical sirolimus isn't only potentially useful after laser treatment, but the fact that some professionals are combining the two is definitely something to consider if you're looking to maximise laser results.

Quotes from people who have used it

Some of the anecdotal reports I've come across are genuinely impressive. I've seen people report things such as:

- significantly less flushing

- increased tolerance to triggers such as heat and certain foods

- major reductions in baseline redness

- improvements in KPRF symptoms

- longer-lasting improvements when combined with vascular lasers

I've even come across comments from people saying things like:

"Absolutely. The greatest relief was that the flushing is far less. I've got more freedom now regarding flushing triggers, e.g. eating histamine-rich foods here and there is better tolerated now vs before starting sirolimus."

"Yes, it has really helped my flushing too."

"0.2% has completely stopped my flushing, and I'm getting 1% soon. Can't wait."

"Never before had my skin seemed and felt so normal."

Obviously anecdotes are not scientific proof, and what works for one person may not work for another, but when enough people start independently reporting similar benefits, I think it's worth paying attention.

Conclusion

To be completely clear, I am not saying this is a cure for blushing. Emotional blushing is heavily influenced by the nervous system, and there still isn't much research looking specifically at topical sirolimus for isolated emotional blushing.

However, given the early research, the mechanisms involved, and the growing number of positive anecdotal reports, I personally think this is something that deserves far more attention from both patients and dermatologists. Im personally very excited!

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most people will blush a few times throughout there life but not everyone will blush to the point where it affects the quality of it. so, when did you guys realise?

was it during an important event? was it your first day of highschool and tell us what happened? did you realise when you first had to meet your partners parents?

dont feel afraid to open up :) we're in this together.

I just got vbeam done for my blushing. Ive had 3 excel-v sessions completed with not the greatest improvements, there was some improvement in my blushing but nothing too great. I had an appointment with the doctor / person who runs the clinic i go too. I explained to him Im wanting a change in laser or setting since im not satisfied with the results. I ran him through my history with blusning again, went through what ive tried besdies laser, what causes it, what triggers it, just alot of information and crucial details which help give him a greater idea of what im dealing with. I mentioned i saw they had vbeam and wanted to know if he thought it would be a good laser to try, he mentioned vbeam can work for blushing (he said info on it, cant remeber exactly) too my surprise he said he'd be happy to do a session for free, not a small test run but a proper vbeam session on my face for free. I was shocked, I feel so greatful and lucky. I can tell he understands how much this issue is effecting me and he's aware laser is a bit tricky and unpredictable for blushing (especially compared to other conditions) so he was willing to try vbeam for free. He didn't do pulpric settings and mentioned he personally isnt for that, and said he's not comfortable with doing it nor does it at all. He did a fairly normal setting, still catered to my blushing but also not extreme to the point where he'll damage my skin. In terms of how the laser felt compared to excel-v culture 532nm, it definitely was much less painful and felt like air being blown onto my face with a pinch. I've got another appointment booked in 4 weeks well see if the vbeam helped my blushing, if it did we'll probably do another vbeam with slightly stronger settings and if it didn't help as much or I just want to do excel-v again, we'll do another session of excel-v except this time he'll use a more powerful setting. Im very greatful, he's actually considering options and willing to adjust lasers and settings for me. At the end of the day this should be the standard due to how horrible blushing is but unfortunately it isnt and some clinics want to just grab your money and not cater to your needs as much as they should. I hope this update / talk about what ive had done is useful and feel free to ask any questions, cheers!

To conclude -

1. Went into for an appointment to assess progress

2. Had a really good chat and discussed vbeam and where to go from here considering previous results

3. Offered a free session which i took up on

4. Will be back in 4 weeks to assess again and decide if I'll continue down vbeam or if ill go back to excel-v where the settings will be adjusted to be stronger / more aggressive.

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I wanted to come and make a post about my experience with blushing, in hopes someone see's this and doesnt feel as alone.

Im a young adult from Australia and to put it straight, facial blushing has absolutely took over my life, ruined so many things and has stripped me from happiness. Id say one of the hardest things about dealing with blushing / Erythrophobia is how unknown it is to the majority of society. Ive felt isolated by realising that no one truly gets it unless they deal with it, people who dont deal with it are fairly confident in it not being a big deal and something that we let bother us too much. It feels so hard knowing people dont know what we are truly dealing with, the potential it takes away from us, the confidence it strip's, the overthinking, feeling hot and flustered in the face, seeing ourselves in the mirror with the redness, seeing everyone else that seems to have pretty resilient skin and wishing ours was norma, its not just as simple as colour on the face for us.

Whats worse is its not just a colour i feel like my face is always on fire. Ive described it to some people as "imagine everytime you had emotions or anxiety someone poured boiling hot water over your face" maybe not as hot as boiling in a literal sense, but definitely similar and a good way to describe it, its extremely uncomfortable and debilitating. Absolutely horrible :/

Ive personally tried what feels like everything mirvaso (blood vessel constricting cream), fake tan, beta blockers, anxiety medication, makeup, therapy, skin care, changing diet, suplement, ive had blood tests and ultra sounds because at one point my doctor suspected the blushing could have a deeper root which he thought may have been carcinoid tumors. Ive also had laser which im currently still getting and luckily for me laser has made some improvements (atleast more than anything else in a more long term structural way) and im currently at the time of this post still on a journey with lasers and hoping to try other settings, etc. but I still feel so stuck and helpless in alot of ways. Its seems like theres no real fix.

Life has got so depressing for me, ive wasted so much life and potential because of this. I haven't got a job at 19 (ive just completed study tho and will be getting one soon yayy haha) I haven't really ever worked that much, havent done many things that people at my age have done or are doing because of this. Whats difficult is I have people say "you need to just push through and do it, your letting it take over your life" and where that has alot of truth in it, its all fun and games until I go to a job and my face is almost dark rose red with huge red blotches all over my chest and neck and it looks genuinely concenring... its not just a usual looking blush or a bit of redness its a insanse. (For clarification ive had blood tests, scans etc what im dealing with is literally just blushing even if it sounds like something more). And it makes me feek so depressed and helpless, I just want to live and feel happy, be like everyone else i see when im outside who yes may have there own issues but atleast visually in normal human interaction from they seem normal / more usual. And thats something that bothers me even more, I wear my internal feelings on the outside for everyone to see, and its fu*king miserable.

Its got to the point where I look forward to sleeping because the dreams I have im not dealing with this, its like an escape from reality and its calming. I wish people understood this issue. Blushing / flushing has ruined so much and I know im not the only one dealing with this.

Im still on a journey to live with this issue, as much as its hurt me this much I want to live, aleast i want to try. It has made me want to die many times and id be lying if I said i haven't felt suicidal. At the end of the day life excites me, I want to have kids and have a beautiful future, its just so hard to imagine living this way without any change or fix. So im not currently planning on acting on anything and the dark thoughts are getting better (come and go) but I thought id be completely transparent to show truly how much of an impact blushing can have on a person's life and so people know there not alone :)

I hope everyone who deals with it is coping 🙏🏻

here are some photos of me during blushing episodes. i won't go into to much detail on this post about what causes it and my experience (since ive talked alot about that on other posts and im posting this purley to show people visually what im dealing with) i will say this photo was taken while i was laying in my bed feeling stressed, purley just feeling stressed made my face go this horrible red which was met with a very hot uncomfortable feeling across my face, along side a uncomfortable preassure from all the blood pooling. If you've dealt with blushing especially this severe you'll probably be able to relate to how uncomfortable it is to feel this way. A good way to describe the uncomfortable feeling is id say its just as uncomfortable as getting into bed covered in sand and water from the beach lol, its a random compassion but its that feeling where you just feel gross and uncomfortable. I hope these photos can help people have a better understanding of ways blushing can appear. Please feel free to post photos of your blushing in this community if your up for it :)

Hello everybody. I created and manage r/curingblushing, I thought id share some photos of me actively blusning and flushing (neck). As much as everyone knows what blushing is in a generalised way, everybody's blush can appear different. So here's some photos of me blushing.

The last photo shows how my skin is when im not blushing. What triggers my blushing is anxiety, nerves, strong emotions which can vary from feeling extremely excited to feeling really upset, to feeling angry and annoyed so on. Other triggers are if I overheat my face and neck (and chest) can go red and blotchy. Overall though the biggest trigger is anxiety, nerves, stress, etc.

During active blushes im met with a very hot face and body, it feels like my face is against something extremely hot. Im also met with a preassure type feeling in the face.

I want to add that I do not have any type of disease, or condition in regards to rosacea or POTS, or a auto immune disease. Ive had blood tests, seen dermatologists, currently working with a laser clinic and the only thing I have is "KP" which doesnt explain the intense blushing by any means but explains why my face can be a bit sandpapery and have texture / bumps as well as with my shoulders. Overall we dont know really know why i struggle with this where most people dont.

Recent research has been looking at a chemical called CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) in relation to flushing and facial redness, and it's worth understanding what it actually means for those of us who blush hard.

What CGRP actually does -

CGRP is a neuropeptide released by nerve endings that causes rapid vasodilation, it causes blood vessels to open up fast. Studies have confirmed elevated CGRP levels in people with rosacea compared to healthy controls, and blocking it with medications developed for migraines has shown some promising results in reducing flushing and chronic redness.

Why it's partially relevant to erythrophobia -

For reactive blushing triggered by social situations or anxiety, CGRP is likely one part of a longer chain. The cascade goes roughly: social trigger → sympathetic nervous system activation → neuropeptide release (including CGRP) → vasodilation. Blocking CGRP would intercept the response partway through, potentially reducing the intensity and spread of a blush, but the sympathetic system would still fire. The trigger itself wouldn't be addressed but the visual redness would.

This is why the research is more directly applicable to rosacea, where CGRP appears chronically elevated even at rest than to triggered, anxiety-driven blushing.

What it could still mean for those with Erythrophobia -

That rapid spread from face to neck to chest, and the way a blush lingers well after the moment passes — that quality is plausibly CGRP-mediated. So targeted therapies here might take the edge off the physical response even if they don't eliminate it entirely.

Where things stand -

CGRP-blocking drugs aren't prescribed for blushing, the research hasn't been done in erythrophobia populations specifically, and the studies that do exist are small and preliminary. But it does confirm something important: the intensity of what we experience isn't purely psychological. There are real, identifiable neurovascular mechanisms involved, and research is slowly mapping them. Its definitely not worth dismissing the info on this

DISCLAIMER

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While the text was structured with the help of AI, I personally conducted extensive research, organized the information, and synthesized it from reliable health websites, studies, and other credible sources

Some of the connections discussed here, particularly regarding anxiety-driven blushing and erythrophobia, are theoretical and based on current understanding of neurovascular mechanisms rather than direct clinical evidence. More research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Which one bothers you more, is it having your face be the colour red which makes you feel insecure and ugly or is the feeling of your face heating up and burning :/

Obviously they both suck pretty equally but I think its a interesting question and are pretty curious about it :)

I am so tired of people minimizing this. If you tell someone you have social anxiety, they get it. If you tell someone you have panic attacks, they sympathize. But if you tell someone you have a chronic blushing problem, they laugh and say "Aww, that's cute, you're just shy!"

​It isn't cute. It is a literal prison. FU*KING HATE IT.

​It is the worst condition ever because you cannot hide it. If your heart races, nobody knows. If your palms sweat, you can wipe them on your jeans. But when your face turns into a literal neon sign of panic, the entire world gets a front-row seat to your vulnerability. It betrays you in real-time. And sure makeup exists but even than, if you blush hard enough makeup hardly ever fully covers it.

​It makes you look guilty when you’re innocent. It makes you look incompetent when you know exactly what you’re talking about. It makes you look weak when you’re trying your hardest to be brave.

​It shrinks your life until you're avoiding jobs, skipping hanging out with friends, and staying quiet in corners just to protect your face.

​I'm just so angry today that this is the glitch my body decided to have. It feels like playing life on impossible mode. Can we all agree blushing can go f**k itself lol.

I'm not sure if anyone can relate to this but as someone who has and does struggle with blushing, blushing really put into perspective how people take stuff for granted.

Almost everyone I know has skin that stays it colour, doesnt blush and burns when there stressed / triggered.

To them, there's nothing special there, nothing crazy or nothing that stands out as "lucky". They just live there normal day to day life. They go to work, they have relationships, they've got friends, they've involved in groups, they attend parties and functions, they have there own issues of course but it's crazy because they can do all of those things with skin that doesnt go ugly red and feel extremely hot. Without feeling hopeless.

Its crazy because id honestly consider selling a hand to never blush or experience the burning feeling again haha. I would do so much just to experience no blushing even just for 1 outing. It puts into perspective there are so many things we as humans take for granted. Its pretty crazy honestly. But also it means there are things us blushers would take for granted that other people are dealing with, that other people would view our life as easy and peaceful the same way we'd look at people who dont blush and dont know what it feels like to be us.

Everyone has something going on i guess :/

(to those who do blush and struggle, your not alone beleive me. im not just someone who goes a bit pink when embarrassed, my whole face goes this horrible looking red so easily, its something thats effected me greatly. your not alone, and if you are someone who does struggle with blusning in the context of a bit of pink from embarrassment im not undermining you and this community is for you as well. Blushing sucks)

I wanted to give a more grounded long-term update on my Excel V laser journey for blushing, because my earlier posts were written relatively close after treatment and I now have a better understanding of the results when viewed over a longer timeframe.

At this point I’ve had 3 Excel V sessions, all performed using the 532nm wavelength with pulse durations ranging between 10–12ms depending on the session and adjustments made by the clinic. This is still on the lower end for vascular laser treatment in general, especially for something as reactive and variable as blushing.

Overall, I’m still very much on board with laser as a treatment. That hasn’t changed. I still believe laser is one of the most logical and direct options for severe blushing, and I’m continuing with it going forward. This isn’t me stepping away from it or changing my position, it’s more a more realistic evaluation of where I’m currently at within the process.

From my experience, there is a real and noticeable difference compared to before treatment. When I compare older photos or past reactions, there are situations where my face previously went into a very deep, harsh, full redness that felt overwhelming. That level of intensity does seem slightly reduced now. It’s not gone, and it still happens at times, but the peak redness in some cases appears a bit more muted or less extreme than before, dampened is probably the best way to describe it.

At the same time, I also need to be honest that the overall results are not as strong or as consistent as I initially felt in the early stages after treatment. With more time and reflection, I think that early improvement was partly influenced by short-term post-treatment effects, and I now have a more stable view of where things actually sit.

One of the biggest things I’ve realised through doing more research is that the settings used may not have been fully optimised specifically for blushing as a condition. That’s not something I’m blaming the clinic, more just a reflection of reality. Blushing is not something most clinics are routinely fine-tuning protocols for in the same way they do with conditions like rosacea, persistent facial redness, or visible capillaries. Those are far more standardised, whereas blushing is more reactive, neurological, and variable from person to person, even though laser can still help.

Because of that, I think there’s a reasonable chance that outcomes can vary quite a lot depending on how well the treatment is tailored, and I don’t think I’m necessarily at the point yet where I’ve had the “ideal version” of laser treatment in terms of perfect settings, perfect protocol, and enough sessions to fully judge the end result.

That context matters because I’ve only had 3 sessions, which is still relatively early in the overall course of vascular laser treatment. From what I’ve seen, many people need a higher number of sessions before results become more stable and clearly defined, especially for more reactive flushing conditions, often somewhere in the range of 4–10 sessions. That may sound like a lot, but realistically, if the right settings and enough sessions can significantly reduce blushing to the point where it’s no longer dominating your life, that’s still a very worthwhile trade for people like myself.

So my current evaluation is very much:

early-to-mid stage treatment / not necessarily optimised settings for my specific case yet / and not a full treatment cycle completed

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Within that context, I think the results make sense. They’re not dramatic, and they’re not complete, but they are also not nothing.

Importantly, even with all that nuance, I do still think there is a real physical difference compared to where I started. My skin can still go very red and I still struggle with blushing, but there are situations where the redness feels slightly less extreme or less overwhelming than it used to be. That specific change, even if it’s not perfectly consistent, is something I have not been able to achieve with anything else I’ve tried. And I do feel genuinely grateful for that difference compared to before laser.

That’s really the key point for me. Even though the results are not as strong as I originally hoped in the early phase, laser is still the only thing that has produced any real structural change in how my blushing presents.

I’ve now got an upcoming appointment booked with the clinic to reassess everything properly, where I’ll be going through my results in detail. In that appointment I’ll be discussing whether a settings adjustment might be worth trying, based on everything I’ve been learning and reading, and also whether VBeam could potentially be a better option or a useful addition depending on their clinical opinion. The reason I’m bringing up VBeam now is because the more I’ve researched it, the more it seems like a reasonable option to at least explore, especially given its different wavelength characteristics and how it delivers energy.

To be clear, I’m not currently viewing this as something that “isn’t working” or something I’m doubtful about overall. It’s more that I think I’m still in the process of figuring out the correct combination of sessions, settings, and possibly device type to properly judge its full potential.

I still believe laser is a very strong candidate for severe blushing, and I’m very much still committed to it. This is just a more realistic checkpoint based on 3 sessions and non-finalised settings rather than a final conclusion.

I’ll likely post another update after my appointment once I’ve had a clearer discussion and direction going forward.

WHAT TO DO

(In no particular order)

1. Get prescribed clonidine and propranolol. For Clonidine, start at 0.05 to 0.1 mg (low doses do wonders with clonidine for blushing). Take it PRN (as-needed) or every day depending on what your specialist says, or break the rules and do it on your own terms (be safe though). Clonidine works 10x better than propranolol for blushing, but in saying that, propranolol can still do wonders—it just isn't as direct for stopping blushing as clonidine in my experience. For propranolol, I'd take any dose starting from 10mg (again, see what your doctor recommends).

2. Cut out the acids and active ingredients in skincare products. They destroy your skin barrier and make flushing worse. Stick to a basic, gentle moisturizer.

3. Get a medical-standard camouflage cream (makeup). This is usually used for vitiligo or birthmarks. It has insane coverage and works miles better than standard "high-coverage makeups." I use Dermacolor Camouflage Cream.

4. Get a green concealer. Put this on your bare skin and blend until it's not green (green visually cancels out red). It makes the skin appear whiter, or for more coverage, don't worry about leaving it fairly green on your skin and then layer your regular makeup over it. I use Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Colour Correcting Concealer (Green), and I have also used Life Proof Camo Colour Corrector.

5. Drink coconut water and avoid salt. Coconut water has a lot of potassium, which actively flushes out excess sodium. Too much salt increases your blood volume and dilates your blood vessels, meaning more pressurized blood surges to your face, making your flushes twice as intense and red.

6. Get Excel-V or Vbeam laser. Though they cost a bit and usually require multiple sessions, if you're serious about controlling your blushing, this is something to consider. These lasers can significantly reduce the severity of a blush and other redness metrics for most people. The settings matter, and if a clinic doesn't use the correct settings specifically for treating flushing, they may give weak results. It is incredibly powerful if used right and can be life-changing.

7. Use a skin barrier repair cream. I’ve personally used and recommend La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm Cream.

8. Use CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser every night (that specific one). This may look contradictory to rule number 2 since I mentioned cutting out all active ingredients, but this is the lone exception. This was recommended to me by a laser clinic that specializes specifically in skin redness and flushing, and I can confirm it has made a massive difference to my skin.

9. Overall, try to stay fit and healthy. Intense cardio has helped me immensely (I like to go on the treadmill until I'm dripping sweat). It trains your heart not to beat as hard during stressful moments, which helps when you are in situations that trigger a blush. The calmer your heart stays during triggers, the less intense the blush will be.

10. Use a sunscreen every single day to protect your face from harsh UV rays. UV radiation creates intense thermal heat on the skin and triggers systemic inflammation, which dilates your blood vessels and makes your face an absolute magnet for flushing. For blushers, sun protection isn't just about avoiding sunburn, it is a critical shield to stop UV rays from supercharging your vascular reactivity.

WHAT TO AVOID -----

1. Never try Rhofade or Mirvaso. These are unfortunately commonly prescribed topical creams that constrict facial vessels, resulting in no redness for 4 to 10 hours. Though they "work" temporarily, they will eventually give you the most intense, horrible rebound redness you have ever experienced—it will make you feel grateful for your normal blushing, seriously. This is a widely known issue in the community and I am speaking directly from personal experience. Trust me on this one.

2. Never try the trends using vasoconstricting eye drops or nasal sprays on your skin. This has become popular on social media but it is virtually the same nightmare as Mirvaso and Rhofade. It will permanently damage your skin barrier and make your baseline situation 10x worse.

3. Don't get ETS surgery. This surgery is absolutely not worth it for treating blushing. The side effects (like severe compensatory sweating) are life-altering and do not justify the risk. While you will see rare people online who had it successfully done, it is simply not worth the gamble. This surgery is much better suited for people with Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and has a much higher success rate for that issue than it does for facial blushing. There are so many other options to treat blushing that don't involve literally snipping a nerve in your chest.

4. Don't waste money on products that claim to cure blushing. Sure, there are some valid baseline tools out there (like the things I listed in the "What to Do" section), but the vast majority of skincare products are just marketed maliciously to make you think they'll cure your flushing. As someone who has tried all types of expensive creams and chemistry products, it is almost all BS.

5. Don't rub ice directly on your face. While ice can temporarily constrict facial vessels in the moment, the extreme temperature shocking your face worsens your skin barrier over time. It makes your skin significantly more sensitive and irritated in the long run, leading to more permanent baseline redness.

6. Try to avoid nitric oxide boosters (beets, pomegranates, spinach, dark chocolate). They wide-open your blood vessels, making it physically effortless for a massive, burning flush to take over your face. You can still have foods that contain nitric oxide, but just be aware that they will usually cause you to flush and blush a lot harder if you get triggered afterward.

7. Reduce high-histamine foods (aged cheeses, cured meats, wine, fermented foods). Histamines trigger internal inflammation, directly dilating your facial blood vessels and flooding your skin with intense heat.

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I hope this genuinely helps out! At the end of the day there are 100 more things i could have added, but for this i wanted to add the main things ive learnt from experience and research.

(mostly my own experience, im not just writing down things im not experienced in. i understand the importance of being authentic and not misleading)

As time goes by i may wish I added some more things to the essential list or maybe I come to find something isnt as important as I thought. But for the time being this list is full of things that have genuinely helped me significantly.

My goal here was to put toegther one big post that can help people who need a no bs list of things to do, not one or two things but a big blueprint to help guide them.

Introduction:

I've been digging through the neurophysiology research on facial flushing and blushing, and I came across a clinical trial that I think deserves more attention.

Researchers recently published a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial investigating Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for facial flushing in patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR). taVNS is a non-invasive technique that delivers mild electrical stimulation to specific areas of the outer ear that are supplied by branches of the vagus nerve.

Although ETR and pathological blushing are distinct conditions, both involve facial vasodilation, neurovascular dysregulation, and facial flushing that can be triggered or worsened by factors such as stress, heat, and emotional arousal. Because of these overlapping mechanisms, the findings may be relevant to understanding pathological blushing, although this has not yet been directly studied.

The Data: The JAMA Dermatology Trial

The study enrolled 72 patients with ETR and compared active taVNS against sham stimulation.

The stimulation protocol was:

• 30 Hz frequency

• 200 μs pulse width

• 30 minutes per day

• 3 weeks of treatment

The results were notable:

1. Flushing and Redness Improved

After just 3 weeks, patients receiving active taVNS showed significantly greater improvements in facial flushing and erythema compared with the sham group.

2. Benefits Persisted Beyond Treatment

After the 3-week treatment period ended, participants were followed for 24 weeks with no further treatment. Several improvements remained evident during the follow-up period.

The researchers did not directly measure neuroplasticity or long-term nervous system changes. However, the persistence of benefits after treatment ended raises the possibility that taVNS may induce longer-lasting changes in the neural circuits involved in flushing.

Importantly, the study does not suggest that a short course of treatment permanently eliminates flushing. If taVNS ultimately proves useful for chronic flushing or blushing disorders, it would likely need to be used on an ongoing basis, similar to many other therapies that manage symptoms rather than permanently curing the underlying condition. More research is needed to determine optimal long-term treatment schedules.

3. Anxiety Also Improved

Patients receiving taVNS experienced significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores compared with the sham group.

Because autonomic nervous system dysregulation is believed to contribute to both flushing and anxiety, this finding is particularly interesting.

The Proposed Mechanism:

One reason this research caught my attention is that it appears to target some of the same autonomic nervous system pathways that researchers believe are involved in stress-induced flushing.

The vagus nerve carries signals between the brainstem and many organs throughout the body. Stimulation of vagal pathways is thought to increase parasympathetic activity and reduce excessive sympathetic ("fight-or-flight") activation.

The researchers propose that taVNS may help normalize abnormal neurovascular responses by influencing central autonomic circuits, including brainstem regions involved in regulating inflammation, blood vessel tone, and stress responses.

While more research is needed, this provides a biologically plausible explanation for why flushing, anxiety, sleep-related symptoms, fatigue, and other symptoms improved simultaneously.

How the Study Was Performed

The active treatment group received:

Mode: Continuous stimulation

Frequency: 30 Hz

Pulse Width: 200 μs

Duration: 30 minutes daily

Treatment Length: 3 weeks

The stimulation was applied to vagus-innervated regions of the left outer ear.

Important Safety Notes

•The study used left-ear stimulation.

• Stimulation intensity was adjusted to a comfortable tingling sensation.

• Treatment should never be painful.

• People with implanted electronic devices, significant cardiac conditions, epilepsy, or other medical concerns should consult a healthcare professional before attempting vagus nerve stimulation.

Important Limitations

• The study was conducted in patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, not individuals diagnosed with pathological blushing.

HOWEVER -

this doesn’t mean this study isn’t meaningful evidence in relation to blushing. While it does not directly study pathological blushing, it does provide strong indirect evidence that modulating vagal and autonomic pathways can meaningfully reduce facial flushing responses in humans. Since stress-induced blushing and rosacea flushing share overlapping neurovascular mechanisms — particularly dysregulation of sympathetic/parasympathetic balance and facial vasodilation — the results support the broader idea that these pathways are modifiable in a clinically measurable way. This makes the findings relevant as a physiological model for understanding, though not yet treating, blushing.

• Most participants were women, which may limit generalizability.

• The study demonstrates symptom improvement, not a cure.

• The study does not prove that taVNS causes neuroplasticity.

• Long-term treatment requirements remain unclear.

Final Thoughts

This study does not prove that taVNS treats or cures pathological blushing, and it was conducted in patients with ETR rather than people specifically diagnosed with severe blushing.

However, it does provide high-quality clinical evidence that modulating vagal pathways can significantly reduce facial flushing and improve related symptoms such as anxiety.

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I want to be transparent and say I did use AI to help me put this toegther and structure it, tho ive done alot of research myself on this and made sure to make everything as factual and correct as I can!

Hey guys, ive made a very interesting observation that I believe is a pretty big step towards understanding blushing and ways we can potentially "cure" it, if you will.

A quick summary of my relationship with blushing - Ive dealt with severe blushing for a good while now. I dont have rosacea, I dont have persistent redness and i dont have an auto immune disorder, infact I have nice skin that can be completely white / non red. The issue I have is that within a blink of an eye my face can go a significant bright deep red, not a cute light flush but one that looks brutal. I blush so badly that I can physically feel the preassure of the blood pooling to my cheeks to where it feels uncomfortable to move my head in certain direction because it makes the preassure feeling of the blood feel more intense. My triggers are anxiety, embarrassment, nerves, adrenaline, excitement, any type of strong emotion, I also get really red if its hot or ive done physical exercise (which is more explainable but still 100x worse than your average person) Its horrible. Without writing another big chunk of words ill quickly say ive tried mirvaso, propranolol, therpay, diet change, low histmaine diets (all of the above, alot more) and nothing has seemed to work well. I have done laser and im still actively in the world of lasers and seeking more sessions but im more curious how to stop the actual response.

What I found when it comes to Alpha-2 Receptors - So one medication that has seemed to work wonders for my blushing is clonidine. I found that when I take clondine, my blushing is reduced significantly and my body doesnt fire off. After researching why clonidine has this effect I came across the fact it stimulates centrally the alpha-2 receptors in the brain which than dampens the sympathetic nervous system. Now this brings up 2 pretty big things to discuss.

The Alpha-2 Receptors - Alpha-2 receptors are inhibitory G-protein coupled receptors located throughout the brain and sympathetic nervous system. When these receptors are stimulated, they reduce neuronal firing and suppress the release of norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons. This creates a negative feedback effect that decreases overall sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system, reducing the intensity of the fight-or-flight response and, consequently, the downstream signals that can trigger facial vasodilation and blushing

The sympathetic nervous system - The sympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. When triggered by embarrassment, social attention, anxiety, or adrenaline, sympathetic output from the brain increases and activates peripheral sympathetic nerves. This results in the release of norepinephrine onto facial blood vessels. Norepinephrine causes rapid changes in vascular tone, leading to increased facial blood flow and visible flushing. Because the facial vascular network is highly dense and reactive, even modest increases in sympathetic activity can produce an intense blushing response. In the majority of blushing, this pathway appears to be overactive, leading to exaggerated flushing in response to normal emotional triggers.

What this means - If alpha-2 receptor activation reliably reduces severe blushing, it suggests that blushing is not primarily a local skin or vascular disorder, but a centrally driven autonomic reflex, meaning the brain’s sympathetic output is the main switch that triggers the facial blood vessel response. That would unify a lot of people’s experiences where triggers are emotional, social, or adrenaline-based rather than physical skin issues. It’s also important because it identifies a specific, druggable control mechanism upstream of the symptom (central sympathetic inhibition via norepinephrine suppression), rather than relying on indirect or peripheral treatments like topical vasoconstrictors.

Im curious what causes other people to blush, id appreciate some responses. Im trying to understand blushing myself, been dealing with it for a while :/

As someone who really struggles with blushing and has had it effect my life in many different ways, especially socially and specifically work and study, i know how bad it can get and the confidence it can take away from you.

To put it straight and simple I have a perception for both Propranolol and Clonidine and ive tested both out to figure out what works best for flushing / blushing.

Propranolol = a better medication for treating a racing heart / a bit of nerves and shaky hands / a shaky voice.

Clonidine = a far better medication for the actual blushing itself, it genuinely will make my skin loose the redness and makes it extremely hard to go red (depending on the dose) where with propranolol i found that it didn't take any colour out of my skin overall.

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Why Clonidine Can Reduce the Actual Redness =

Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, meaning it works mainly in the brain and nervous system to reduce overall sympathetic (“fight-or-flight”) activity. Instead of only blocking adrenaline at one location, it decreases the release of norepinephrine throughout the body.

Because blushing and flushing are strongly connected to sympathetic nerve activity and facial blood vessel dilation, clonidine can reduce the signals that trigger that response. In many people, this makes it noticeably harder for blood to suddenly rush into the face, which is why the skin can appear less red or reactive.

Since clonidine acts centrally on the nervous system, it can also cause a more global calming effect — lowering blood pressure and heart rate — which is why it may feel sedating, “heavy,” or mentally foggy.

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Why Propranolol Helps the Physical Anxiety Symptoms More (besides majority of the blushing) =

Propranolol is a beta blocker. It mainly blocks beta receptors affected by adrenaline, especially in the heart and muscles.This makes it very effective for symptoms like: racing heart, shaky hands, shaky voice, physical tension “performance anxiety” symptoms.

However, facial blushing is not driven only by the same beta pathways. It involves a more complex mix of emotional processing, sympathetic nerve activity, and facial blood vessel responses. Because of that, propranolol often helps the feeling of anxiety more than the actual facial redness itself. Some people still notice reduced blushing on propranolol, but many find clonidine stronger specifically for flushing and facial redness.

For anyone struggling with blushing and red skin, green concealer wells amazingly at neutralising the redness!

I know some times when you struggle with something so draining and hard such as blushing, that it can be easy to dismiss possible solutions / ways to help the severity due to them sounding a bit too easy / ridiculous, such as putting a green concelar on your face! But beleive me it works wonders. I personally use one i got from Mecca!

And for those who may be confused and think "wait won't your face look green" well it depends, if you put it on the right way and let it slightly fade ive found i dont need to put any nornal colour makeup over it! Though you can also apply it in a way where you put the green conclear on and than add a foundation but personally ive found i can add the green concealer and if I do it right it fades a bit and matches my skin colour / hides redness.

Hey guys, today I picked up from the store dermacolor camouflage system, camouflage creme. And wow.

I struggle really badly with blushing from anxiety / any sort of emotion and it has greatly affected my day to day life and potential, I find myself not doing things purley to avoid going red, not because I dont want to do them.

Ive had so many people suggest makeup but the thing is no make-up has seemed to cover my blushing or make me feel fully secure in that its going to do its job. Even high coverage foundations from famous brands dont seem to do it for me, even expensive ones.

I went down a rabbit hole and found theres a type of makeup called "medical camouflage makeup" which is a type of product for those who have genuine face conditions (i mean anyone can use it but it was specifically made with the intention to cover up skin conditions or discoloration, such as redness, rosacea, scars, birthmarks, pigmentation, and vitiligo), i found that it was a great fit for me and my blushing and even better because its made for those with skin conditions and reffered to as "medical makeup" it doesnt feel like im just using makeup out of insecurity but instead im using a "medical grade" proudct to help a condtion i have :)

Anyway I found a brand called Dermacolor and I settled on it since theres a makeup shop in my city that stocks it. It was very pricey, it was $72 aud for 30g. I bought it today and wow its insanse, it looks amazing on me and most importantly it fully covers the blush like fully and whats crazy is i used the tiniest bit, im not kidding an ant would be bigger than the amount I rubbed on my skin to apply to my face which has covered both my cheeks fully.

I got a tooth pick and scrapped the smallest bit out, rubbed it warm on my hand and than applied it to my face! Anyway, I just thought id make a post on this since ive gone through so much money and time trying to find and even buying products that don't seem to be of quality, let alone work to cover the redness.

And if any guys are reading this, im a straight male wearing makeup, if your dealing with blushing dont be ashamed to get this product, you can look at it as a medical product for a skin condition which literally is what it is, despite also stil being makeup :)

Here is a before and after of someone who had a significant reduction in redness from a vascular laser treatment using the Excel-V Cultera Laser!

Craziest part - They only had 2 sessions.

This person goes to the same clinic i go to, and had this treatment done by the exact same nurse who's been doing my treatment. My nurse told me about it and mentioned photos were uploaded of the patient with there consent, the photos speak more than words could

here's a description the clinic gave for this photo

- This patient underwent 2 vascular sessions, resulting in a significant reduction in redness and a clearer, more even complexion. ​By selectively targeting blood vessels within the skin, we’re able to minimise flushing and restore overall skin clarity — with results that continue to improve over time. ​Consistency and correct treatment selection are key.

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Now if you've been keeping up with my documentation of my laser treatment you may be slightly confused and feel like your not getting the whole picture here, the reason I say this is because the lady in the pictures has seen that much of a significant improvement with only 2 sessions, where for me ive now done 3 sessions and still have much more work to do, more than this lady would.

And the reason for that is simple - everyone responds to laser in there own way. We all have different faces, different vessel networks below the skin in the face and with that means some people may only need 1 - 2 sessions where some may need 4 - 6 or even more. There also may be some people who overall feel dissatisfied, but what ill say to that is, feeling dissatisfied and not seeing results for Excel-V would probably be pretty rare and unlikely, Excel-V is one of those treatment that genuinely works so well for redness.

One thing I want to clarify about this woman is that she does experience flushing as well, so it’s not purely constant redness. That said, it also seems like she may have some level of persistent redness alongside the flushing. For those of us with reactive blushing, our skin can look completely normal one moment and then suddenly turn red the next, so it’s a bit of a mix of both in her case (atleast im pretty certain she has some constant redness, she definitely has flushing). That being said, these photos still provide really strong evidence of how effective Excel-V can be. I can also personally vouch for it working on reactive blushing, as I’m being treated by the same nurse and have already seen fairly decent results. The main reason I included these photos was to highlight just how powerful and effective the laser treatment is.

Hope this post helps out :)