Flushed

Flushed is a term used in medicine to describe a state where the skin becomes red and warm, often as a result of illness or strong emotion. This can occur in various medical conditions and situations, such as fever, embarrassment, anger, or physical exertion.

Causes

The flushing of the skin can be caused by a variety of factors. These include:

• Emotions: Strong emotions such as embarrassment, anger, or excitement can cause the skin to flush. This is due to the body's fight or flight response, which causes blood vessels to widen and increase blood flow to the skin.

• Fever: A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, often due to an illness. This can cause the skin to become flushed.

• Physical exertion: Physical activity, such as exercise, can cause the skin to flush. This is due to increased blood flow to the skin to help cool the body.

• Alcohol: Consuming alcohol can cause the skin to flush. This is due to the dilation of blood vessels caused by alcohol.

• Menopause: During menopause, women may experience hot flashes, which can cause the skin to become flushed.

Symptoms

The main symptom of being flushed is having a red, warm skin. However, other symptoms can accompany this, depending on the cause. These can include:

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath

Treatment

Treatment for being flushed will depend on the underlying cause. If the flushing is due to a fever, treatment may involve medication to reduce the fever. If the flushing is due to physical exertion, resting and cooling down may help. If the flushing is due to alcohol, avoiding alcohol may prevent the flushing.

See also

• Blushing
• Rash
• Erythema
• Rosacea

Flushed Resources
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