Imagine tripping up on a crowded platform when running for a train, knocking over a glass of red wine at a formal dinner party, or accidentally setting off a security alarm in a busy shop. These are typical situations in life that would make the majority of us blush. But for a large number of people, blushing can be triggered by relatively innocuous, everyday events, such as being asked the time or having to speak to somebody of the opposite sex. For these people, blushing (or simply the fear of blushing) has become such a preoccupation, they often have difficulty applying for new jobs, finding a partner or having any sort of social life. And sadly, whilst the Beauty Therapist may be able to help clients mask their blushing with the latest make-up products and application techniques, such superficial measures do very little to address the underlying cause ...

Why we blush

Blushing is intrinsically linked to our inherent 'fight or flight' instinct. When faced by something that provokes an intense emotion in us, such as anger or fear, our sympathetic nervous system responds by preparing the body for action; the pupils dilate; the heart accelerates; bladder contraction and stomach activity are inhibited; and adrenaline is pumped throughout the body. Simultaneously, blood is directed either away from the skin (if required by the muscles) or towards it (in order to regulate body temperature by the process of vasodilation).

Obviously these physiological changes are extremely useful if we are being physically threatened (e.g. by a wild animal) as we are then in a strong position to either run away or defend ourselves. However, they are not so useful when the triggering emotion is not fear or anger, but embarrassment - in which case afflicted individuals usually have to 'grin and bear' the situation, along with sweaty palms, a racing heart and, of course, a red face. In such instances it is only once the feeling of embarrassment has subsided that the parasympathetic nervous system will bring the body back to equilibrium. Basically speaking, blushing is a means of cooling down a body that has been readied for action but is remaining stationary.

Blushing: the social element

The majority of us only blush when we feel embarrassed by a particular situation, and to feel embarrassment usually requires the presence of other people. (Very few of us would blush if we spilt wine or tripped up at home alone!) This centres around the fact we care about what other people think of us. If we behave 'inappropriately' in a situation, then those who are present will see us acting in a way that is at odds with how we would like them to see us. This is perhaps why people rarely recall blushing before the age of 5 - up until this age, we do not have the capacity to fully understand what is or isn't 'normal' or 'appropriate behaviour' in a social context, nor are we able to consider ourselves or our actions from another person's point of view.

Why some people blush more than others

People who are naturally shy and self-conscious are far more likely to suffer from embarrassment / blushing than people who are outgoing and confident, and therefore personality type is a key factor. However, even highly sociable people can be prone to blushing when faced with a new or unusual situation, largely because the potential to behave 'inappropriately' (and therefore feel embarrassed) is above average.

Whilst everyone is capable of blushing under the 'right' circumstances, there is little doubt that blushing is more obvious in people who have fair and/or thin skin. As a result, these people are often more self-conscious about their blushes than those who have dark or thick skin, which in turn can make them more prone to blushing.

Age can also have a role to play. Adolescents are particularly concerned about what others may think of them, and have to frequently deal with new and potentially embarrassing situations. The fact that the body goes through significant physical changes as a result of puberty can be an additional source of anxiety for the self-conscious teenager. (Indeed, people often report that blushing first became a problem for them between the ages of 9 and 13, and escalated during adolescence.)

On the plus side, however, it is generally assumed that the frequency and fear of blushing declines after adolescence. Indeed, Professor Edelmann comments in his book, Coping with Blushing, that: "there is evidence that neurochemical receptors that control the dilation of the facial veins become less numerous with age and hence ones' capacity to blush may well decline. It is also likely that many of us become less concerned about other people's evaluations of us as we get older".

Chronic blushing

Yet age, personality and skin type aside, some people will apparently blush at just about anything. Such people suffer from what is known as 'chronic blushing', or 'erythrophobia', whereby the feeling of embarrassment is experienced "in the absence of any clearly defined accident, social transgression or faux pas. The only feature that seems to be essential is the presence of other people". It is therefore the actual fear of blushing that generates the blushing in the first instance. What triggers this fear is exposure to any situation that involves other people.

People who suffer from chronic blushing often get caught up in a vicious blushing-thought cycle, which would typically involve an internal dialogue along the lines of: "I'm blushing ... have others noticed? ... how are they reacting? ... I'm sure they can tell ... they must wonder why I'm blushing ... how embarrassing ... what must they think? ... is my face getting redder? ... I'm blushing …” And although it might seem almost impossible to the chronic blusher, Professor Edelman believes that this cycle can be broken through a number of distraction techniques and relaxation strategies...

Coping with blushing

It is important for the chronic blusher to think positively. This can be achieved through 'self-talk', both before and during a blushing incidence. When preparing for a difficult situation, one or two of the following thoughts may be of use:

• I can cope with it
• I will not be negative
• I will think rationally
• I will not worry; it won't help
• I will manage the situation.

And when blushing:

• It's not the worst thing that could happen to me
• This is a good chance for me to practice coping
• I can handle this challenge
• I am going to stay and confront this.

Focusing on something or someone else as opposed to internal thoughts and/or the thoughts of others may also be of benefit. For instance, the chronic blusher may like to make a mental note of as many details as possible relating to a person or object in close proximity.

Whilst the above techniques pay particular attention to breaking the blushing-thought cycle, it is also useful to learn different modes of relaxation that can be called upon before, during and after a blushing incidence, to literally calm and cool the body and face back down. Learning how to breathe deeply and to tense and relax the various muscle groups can be helpful, as can the use of visualisation.

Remember...

Blushing, particularly chronic blushing, is as much a psychological problem as it is a physiological one. Understanding, patience, and practice are required by those hoping to tackle both the cause and symptoms.

Did you know?

In Victorian England, blushing in women was considered flattering as it implied that they were reserved and inhibited by nature - qualities that suited their 'secondary role' in society.

Certain chemical additives in cosmetics may aggravate sensitive skin, making it red in appearance. This may increase concern about blushing in self-conscious individuals/ chronic blushers.

Nicotinic acid or niacin, which occurs naturally in may foods (including yeast beans and lean meat) can dilate blood vessels and produce facial flushing if taken in large amounts.

The word 'erythrophobia' (which is a fear/ phobia of blushing) comes from the Greek words eruthros, meaning to be red, and phobos, meaning fear.

References

Coping with Blushing, by Professor Robert Edelmann, is published by Sheldon Press was used as reference material for the purposes of this article.

Our thanks to International Therapist Magazine for allowing us to share this past issue content.