Possible causes of warm, flushed cheeks include dermatitis, acne, hot flashes, lupus, and other health issues. They happen when blood vessels widen near the skin’s surface.
In many cases, the cheeks blush for benign reasons. However, they can sometimes signify a more severe condition.
It is important for a person to know the potential causes of flushed cheeks and the other symptoms that may occur alongside them.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), there are many benign causes of flushing. For example, a person may blush if they feel hot, anxious, stressed, or embarrassed.
In these cases, the flushing will ease as a person cools down or begins to feel calmer.
If a person experiences anxiety or stress, they may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy and antianxiety medications.
Overexposure to the sun can result in sunburned skin. Many people will experience sunburn at some point in their lives, especially on areas of the body that are often exposed to the sun, such as the face.
Wearing sunscreen and avoiding the sun during peak hours can help prevent sunburn.
Acne develops when the hair follicles become blocked.
Sebaceous glands are located near the surface of the skin. They produce sebum, which prevents the skin from drying out.
When the glands produce too much sebum, it can combine with dead skin cells, plugging up the follicle and resulting in:
- whiteheads
- pimples
- blackheads
- nodules
- cysts
As acne develops, the skin surrounding the acne can become discolored.
Sometimes, a person can come into contact with something that irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, such as cosmetics, shampoo, and skin care products.
This can cause contact dermatitis, where the skin becomes flushed, itchy, and swollen.
Before applying a new product to the face, a person should perform a patch test. This involves applying the product to a small area of the skin to see if a reaction develops.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that causes itchy patches of skin that are red, purple, brown, or gray in color, depending on a person’s skin tone.
Although it can appear anywhere on the body, it commonly develops on the face, elbows, or behind the knees.
Management tips
There is no cure for eczema. However, there are many creams and medications that people with eczema can use to reduce and relieve their symptoms.
A person’s cheeks can flush if they have a fever. If a person has a fever, they may also have other symptoms, such as:
- shivering
- sweating
- warm skin
People often develop a fever when they are fighting off an infection, such as a cold or flu.
A person can develop flushed cheeks due to an underlying infection, such as Scarlet fever and Fifth disease. Both commonly affect children.
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that causes a rash and sore throat. Although the rash does not affect the face, the cheeks can become flushed. Scarlet fever will require antibiotic treatment.
Fifth disease, also called slapped cheek syndrome, is caused by parvovirus B19 and causes a rash to appear on one or both cheeks in children. Fifth disease will often resolve without the need to see a doctor.
Rosacea is a common condition
Alongside flushing, a person may experience:
- telangiectasia, which refers to small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin
- small bumps, sometimes filled with yellow liquid
- a burning or stinging feeling when applying water or skin care products
Although there is no cure for rosacea, a doctor may be able to prescribe medicated creams or gels. A person can also:
- Wear SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day.
- Avoid heat and sunlight, if possible.
- Cover the face in cold weather.
- Use gentle skin care products, such as pH-balanced cleansers and moisturizers.
- Manage stress, if possible.
- Avoid triggers, such as spicy foods and alcohol.
Spicy or hot foods can cause the facial skin to become red. This is especially true for those with skin conditions such as rosacea.
The best way to prevent flushing from spicy foods is to avoid eating the foods that cause a reaction. Hot chili peppers and foods at high temperatures, such as soup, can trigger the response.
Limiting the amount of spice in food and letting food cool down before eating can reduce the risk of flushing.
Specific medications can trigger facial flushing. This symptom is often due to histamine, a chemical that the immune system releases in reaction to the drug.
Several medications could cause flushing. To see if flushing is a side effect, a person can check the label of the information leaflet that came with their medication.
As histamine often causes the reaction, a person could counteract the effects with an antihistamine or allergy medication.
In other cases, a person may prefer not to take the medication that causes the flushing response. Talking with a doctor before stopping any medications is essential. The doctor can provide advice on the individual’s options for managing the reactions.
Hot flashes often occur when people transition to menopause. A hot flash is a sensation of intense heat that can last from
Doctors are still unsure exactly what causes hot flashes. However, they believe that estrogen plays a part in affecting the body’s heat regulation.
The brain senses that the body is too hot, which triggers a sweat reaction and flushing. A person’s levels of estrogen decline during menopause.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects many of the body’s systems and organs, including the skin.
One of the disease’s early signs can be a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. When the disease flares up, the rash may look like sunburn on the face.
The technical term for this rash is malar rash.
Lupus is a condition that requires a doctor to diagnose and treat it. Although it is not possible to cure this disease, treatments can help minimize flare-ups and complications.
Although it is a less common cause, consuming alcohol can cause facial flushing. When the body processes alcohol, it produces a compound called acetaldehyde. Some people are unable to process this compound, so it builds up in the blood, resulting in facial flushing.
Statistics have shown that facial flushing after drinking alcohol is
In most cases, people do not need to seek medical attention at the first sign of flushed cheeks. It is often possible to monitor and treat the condition at home.
However, people should seek medical attention if they experience any of the following:
- facial flushing that does not go away
- persistent acne
- a butterfly-shaped rash on the face
It is also vital to be aware of potential signs of imminent danger. If facial flushing occurs alongside some of the following symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention:
- wheezing
- hives
- trouble breathing
- swelling in the mouth or throat
- dizziness or lightheadedness
These are signs of an allergic reaction.
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A person can develop flushed cheeks for a variety of reasons, including acne, rosacea, reactions to foods and medications, eczema, lupus, sunburn, and drinking alcohol.
People who are going through menopause may experience facial flushing. Menopause can cause hot flashes, which can cause flushed cheeks.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes a facial rash that can look like flushing. It can develop a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose.
There are many causes of facial flushing. Many causes, such as feeling too hot or embarrassed, are benign. However, if facial flushing occurs alongside other symptoms, it may indicate an underlying health condition.
If a person experiences persistent facial flushing or accompanying symptoms, they should consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause.