What Are the Treatments for Facial Flushing?

Facial flushing is the sudden and mostly short-lived reddening of your face and neck. The causes of facial flushing are many. A sunburn, a fever, chronic rosacea--a type of inflammatory skin disease-- and hot flashes can all cause your face to temporarily flush. The treatments for facial flushing depend on the cause, but in many cases include cooling of your skin.

A woman is fanning her face. (Image: DragonImages/iStock/Getty Images)

Cool Off

Facial flushing can occur when your body temperature rises above normal. Situations that can produce flushing are a fever, a sunburn and a hot flash. Taking an over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can bring down a fever and relieve the pain associated with a sunburn. As your body temperature drops, you most likely will notice your face returning to its normal coloring.

Hot flash-related flushing may be more challenging to treat. The North American Menopause Society suggests removing layers of clothing, using a fan, drinking cool beverages and speaking to your doctor about either herbal treatment or hormone replacement therapy to control hot flashes and the associated symptoms, such as facial flushing.

Adjust Your Diet

Experimenting with a food journal might help treat your facial flushing, especially if you suffer from rosacea or flushing induced by menopause. Rosacea is an incurable, but manageable chronic skin condition. According to the National Institutes of Health, some people who have rosacea experience flare-ups when they eaten certain foods--spicy food, caffeine and alcohol are common triggers, but you might have other dietary triggers as well. Post-menopausal women who experience facial flushing and night sweats should also avoid these substances, as they can both raise your body temperature and act as overall irritants.

Manage Stress

Reducing your stress can help control facial flushing that stems from both rosacea and hot flashes. Both of these conditions can be exacerbated by stress. Deep breathing, yoga and and any other type of relaxation exercise that calms you might be the key to minimizing your flushing.

Seek Medical Treatment

Seek medical attention if you do not know the source of your facial flushing. One rare, but serious disease called carcinoid syndrome is characterized in part, by a red discoloration of the face. Carcinoid syndrome is a condition in which cancerous tumors grow in your lungs or digestive tract, and cause your blood vessels to dilate. Surgical removal of the tumors and chemotherapy may be required to control the disease.