Flushing is the visible sign of a generalised increase in the skin blood flow that occurs with relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle. This may occur due to changes in the autonomic nervous system (nerve supply which controls our body’s internal organs), our body’s internal chemicals and hormones (e.g. histamine and serotonin) or external factors (e.g. alcohol, drugs, food and food additives).
There are a number of causes to consider:
- Physiological (due to fever, heat exposure, exercise, embarrassment or anger)
- Exogenous or external agents such as alcohol, drugs, food and food additives
- Menopausal “hot flushes”
- Neurologic disorders such as anxiety or autonomic dysfunction
- Systemic diseases such as carcinoid syndrome, mastocytosis, pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis, POEMS syndrome, thyroid, pancreatic or renal tumors.