Why Do My Face Turn Red? Exploring the Causes of Facial Flushing
Blushing is common in daily life, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. However, when it comes to facial flushing, one should pay attention to it. Facial flushing can be divided into physiological and pathological types. If it is pathological, it is often related to poor peripheral blood circulation. In such cases, it is recommended to undergo relevant examinations at a hospital. Of course, if this phenomenon occurs in high-altitude areas, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is also considered normal. Let's briefly understand what facial flushing is about.
Generally speaking, fever causes the skin's blood vessels to expand, resulting in facial flushing. Although cold causes blood vessels to contract, when the temperature rises, the blood vessels will rebound and expand, causing blushing. However, some people may also experience blushing due to abnormal dilation of blood vessels under extremely cold temperatures. Clinically, it manifests as threadlike, punctate, star-shaped, or patchy erythema on the face.
When there are large temperature differences, such as moving from cold outdoor air to an air-conditioned room, the microvessels lose elasticity due to repeated contraction and dilation, reflecting as redness and stinging sensation on the cheeks and nose. Initially, the facial heat can be restored to its original state immediately, but if it persists repeatedly for a long time, the blood vessels may lose their dilation function and harden in a state of excessive dilation, making the face appear reddened even when it is calm. In severe cases, facial flushing may also occur when bending down and then lifting the head up. This symptom is relatively mild in spring, summer, and autumn but often becomes more severe in winter.
From a medical perspective, facial heat refers to the tendency for the face to turn red more easily and deeply with longer duration compared to others due to changes in temperature or emotions. Blood vessels exist in the skin and expand or contract under the influence of nerve factors. In particular, the capillaries in the cheeks are abundant, making the cheeks more prone to redness. If facial redness only occurs in winter, it is more related to temperature changes. Generally speaking, heat causes the skin's blood vessels to expand, resulting in facial flushing. Although cold causes blood vessels to contract, when the temperature rises, the blood vessels will rebound and expand, causing blushing. However, some people may also experience blushing due to abnormal dilation of blood vessels under extremely cold temperatures. Clinically, it manifests as threadlike, punctate, star-shaped, or patchy erythema on the face.
