Facial hyperemia is an involuntary temporary redness of the skin on the face that occurs as a result of the expansion of blood vessels. In most cases, hyperemia is the body’s natural response to some kind of exposure (for example, exercise, high air temperature, eating spicy foods or alcohol). Other causes of facial redness include:
- Different emotional states, such as excitement, sexual arousal, embarrassment, anger. These emotions speed up the heartbeat, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the brain.
- Exposure to cold. Frost or strong winds cause the body to try to regulate the temperature so that the internal organs remain warm. Because of this, the face may become rosy.
- High blood pressure and hypertension. Clogged or narrowed blood vessels cannot fully pump blood. The heart works hard, resulting in a rush of blood to the face.
- Hormonal changes. During pregnancy and menopause, which is often accompanied by hot flashes, an increase in blood flow occurs.
Facial hyperemia also occurs when the body overheats (for example, with fever, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke). In addition, it can be caused by allergic reactions and inflammatory conditions. With such
conditions often causes hyperemia of the eyes. In rare cases, redness can cause carcinoid syndrome - a condition where the tumor produces hormones leading to vascular changes.
Blood vessel overflow can be active and passive. In the first case, arterial hyperemia occurs, when blood flows faster than usual, which leads to an increase in hyperemic tissue in volume and an increase in its temperature. In the second case, venous hyperemia occurs , characterized by difficulty in the outflow of blood and its stagnation in the veins.
Redness of the face may be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the condition that causes it. The main ones are the unhealthy appearance of the skin, acne, blisters, skin itching, excessive sweating, a feeling of heat. Hyperemia can be accompanied by symptoms that occur in other systems of the body (for example, dizziness, diarrhea, anxiety, heart palpitations). This may be the result of another disease requiring treatment.
Facial hyperemia should be treated, depending on what causes it. So, instant redness of the skin due to surging emotions does not require any therapy and is a normal condition. This redness can be controlled by fanning or washing with cold water. At the same time, if the rush of blood to the face is associated with pressure and acceleration of the heartbeat, measures must be taken to reduce the heart rate and keep blood pressure at an optimal level.
If you experience facial flushing, and you do not know its cause, contact a specialist for diagnosis. In rare cases, it can be a cancer syndrome, since a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract or lungs can lead to the expansion of blood vessels.