Skin Blushing or Flushing

The swift reddening of face, cheeks, upper chest and neck is termed as skin blushing also known as flushing. This happens when the blood vessels dilate. The reasons could be numerous. Flushing happens when the nerves act to blood vessels, this process is convoyed by sweating. There are certain agents that act directly, they are called as dry flushing.

This phenomenon happens involuntarily. It can be due to stress and embarrassment. It is said that when the sympathetic nervous system gets over active then blushing happens. The glands get regulated without effort and the blood vessels of the face are controlled. With right spur the reaction takes place with the nerves making the vessels to widen with rush of blood streaming and finally the reddening of face.

This condition is common and natural in people with social phobia. It could be due to fear, humiliation, criticism or anxiety.

Cutaneous flow of blood provides nutrition and regulates the body heat. The circulatory system of the body is governs these two major functions of blood flow. The arteries, veins and capillaries provide nutrition while the other kind is the subcutaneous venous plexus is responsible for heat conduction and radiation. The arteriovenous anastomoses are found in the exposed areas like the ears, lips, hands, feet and nose. They are apical structures and reduce blood flow in cold environment.

Blood flow is neurally and locally synchronized. Vasodilation occurs in resistance vessels. It is associated with the sweat glands that are sympathetic cholinergically activated.  Hence, Vasodilation of venous plexus could be the mechanism that causes it.

While emotional blushing is restricted to a blush region like the face, neck, ears. This is because that the Vasodilation occurs in the entire body but is seen only in this region because of the anatomy. Also particular kind of Vasodilation takes place in this area. These two combined results in blushing.