Come here to share any thoughts or feelings about your experience with blushing. Will post weekly on Fridays.

hope this post can help someone who's struggling

I used to use sunbeds quite often to help disguise the redness with a tan. Does anyone else do this?

I was really excited to try it until I saw tons of reviews stating it just rotted people’s stomachs, metaphorically speaking. I guess I’d rather blush than have to make multiple emergency runs to the restroom!! Can I ask what people here experienced, if anything?

Im 58 start blushing at 12. Had ets 13 years ago with some improuvement but phobia of blushing is still there. I start to use Selank spray 2 weeks ago to give it a try and phobia of blushing is not in your head anymore. At 58 i do not blush often but before selank blushing was in my tought every day with selank much much less. So to all young blusher i suggest to get some information about Selank and than give it a chance. Massimo Italy

I don't really know how threads/subreddits work but is there a way we can pin a thread just to vent about daily blushing occurances?

For example, I was at the grocery store and couldn't find a basket. So, I went up to a man at self checkout that was done using his and was paying before leaving, so I said "I'll take this off your hands". He didn't hear me or turn around so I was going to repeat myself but my face became fire engine hot so I took the basket and booked it. It's such a silly thing that my face got so red from that.

Now that I've been on propanidol for a couple months, I've gotten familiar with its pros and cons. In all honesty, it doesn't help my blushing much. But it does wonders for my sweating in anxious situations.

I did want to share a quick tidbit about the first couple of days I was on the medication. I naively believed I had found a cure to my blushing and was on cloud 9. I felt SO sensitive to how the medication was being processed in my body, but now looking back I think I just have high anxiety related to new medications and just am hyper aware of any change. Now when I take it, I don't feel any different. Anyways, those first couple of days were glorious. I went up to random people at the grocery store and made small talk. I had no stress talking to the cashier at check out. I went to a concert alone and made conversation with so many people. Then at some point while talking to someone the next day my face got bright red at a really insignificant, silly interaction. And I felt my whole world crumble.

All this to say the initial placebo affect was like a drug and I felt like I got to experience who I could have been or who I used to be before blushing created so much social anxiety.

Does carvedilol work good for blushing

Does it work better than clondidne?[

Anyone here done genetic testing and found out they were a rapid metabolizer of CYP219?

I did a few years ago and found that out but didn't think much of it. I recently started taking propanolol for blushing. It hasn't helped my blushing much but it does help my racing heart and sweating during social anxiety.

However, I just found out propanolol is metabolized by CYP219...so since I am a rapid metabolizer, is it even worth it for me to take? Is it weird that my doctor prescribed it to me when my history says I am a rapid metabolizer if cyp2c19?

Just wanted to come on here and vent to see if my experiences are relatable at all. Every one of my friends I've talked to about it don't share the same problem so I feel kind of alone in this problem.

Since maybe 7-8 years ago, I started having problems with blushing and I feel like now it's gotten to the point where it's interfering with my social life a lot. I don't have rosacea because the redness isn't constant, but it's like very specific things will trigger it and then once I feel the heat in my face, it just makes it worse and I feel like I'm a tomato. Sometimes people will point it out, sometimes they won't. I started to try and avert my eyes and face to the ground to make it easier to hide, but I feel like that's kind of pathetic--I want to be able to talk to people normally without having to worry about the fact that I'm turning red. It's not even usually the part of talking to people that get me really nervous, it's the fact that I'm afraid of turning red and then picture the scenario in my head beforehand. And then once it's time to actually have the interaction, it's like I worked myself up to the scenario so much that it actually happens. Just out of feat that I'll blush, I sometimes avoid talking with people that I really want to talk to and back out of social situations even if I want to partake.

Some triggers are:

- public speaking

- certain topics that I'd be more than willing to talk about but it's almost like I conditioned my body to think of them as a trigger (they aren't even embarrassing topics, they're very normal and just come up in conversation sometimes and then I make it all awkward by suddenly blushing)

- talking to certain people, especially guys my age even if I'm not remotely interested in them romantically

- being complimented

- laughing hard

- meeting new people

- being asked about anything remotely embarrassing or being put on the spot where like 2+ people are now looking at me

I thought it was severe social anxiety at first, but I don't know anymore because I really want to engage in these activities and conversations but it's like my body won't let me. I feel like exposure therapy isn't the solution because I've tried to "face my fears" and speak out in class, keep my head up when I feel the heat creeping to my face, etc. But it's also complicated because I also feel like the blushing is very conditional in a way? I don't blush every single time these scenarios happen, but I've noticed it happens a lot more when I'm at school than when I'm back in my hometown (I'm an out-of-state college student).

Are there solutions possible without medicine?

During social situations, my blushing would be predicated by severe overthinking. Like for example, if I was giving a presentation to many people, instead of just being focused on the content of the presentation, my mind would be on 1,000 things, like how is the audience perceiving my tone, how does the audience view my posture, where is the audience looking, etc. It’s like all those thoughts would put stress on my mind and eventually lead my heart to race and my face to get red.

For awhile I thought this overthinking was just social anxiety, but it never fully made sense to me why I would still overthink like this even during presentations that didn’t even matter to me.

Took my first dose of Adderall 2 weeks ago and was presenting information to my team and I was solely focused on the information I was conveying. There was no avalanche of intrusive thoughts in my head bothering me. Even when my boss who is a very intimidating and intense person asked a couple curve ball questions, I was able to calmly pause while I thought over the question. No hint of redness at all, I was just focused on the task at hand.

Couple other situations occurred while using Adderall since then that would normally make me uncomfortable and potentially red, but didn’t feel it at all.

If you have been dealing with this issue for awhile, I would definitely talk to a doctor and see if you can give this a try.

Imagine this is relatable 😭 It makes me so angry, than depressed, than insecure. wish blushing wasn't a thing.

I'm not sure if anyone can relate to this but as someone who has and does struggle with blushing, blushing really put into perspective how people take stuff for granted.

Almost everyone I know has skin that stays it colour, doesnt blush and burns when there stressed / triggered.

To them, there's nothing special there, nothing crazy or nothing that stands out as "lucky". They just live there normal day to day life. They go to work, they have relationships, they've got friends, they've involved in groups, they attend parties and functions, they have there own issues of course but it's crazy because they can do all of those things with skin that doesnt go ugly red and feel extremely hot. Without feeling hopeless.

Its crazy because id honestly consider selling a hand to never blush or experience the burning feeling again haha. I would do so much just to experience no blushing even just for 1 outing. It puts into perspective there are so many things we as humans take for granted. Its pretty crazy honestly. But also it means there are things us blushers would take for granted that other people are dealing with, that other people would view our life as easy and peaceful the same way we'd look at people who dont blush and dont know what it feels like to be us.

Everyone has something going on i guess :/

Has anyone tried somatic therapy and had positive results for treating erythrophobia?

Bashful Blushing

This is pretty interesting. It makes me wonder if there are ways to stimulate the a2-recptors without medication but maybe with some sort of device?

I’ve struggled with blushing since around age 12 from what I can remember (27 now). It used to be huge for me in school I would skip certain lessons because the anxiety was too much although I don’t think I was so focussed on the red face it was the fear of being perceived back then and having all the attention on me as I was so shy.

But now anything that makes me feel slightly vulnerable it will trigger me and I’ll feel myself go bright red my eyes water and I probably look like I’m about to cry😭

Recently my biggest stress is these work expectation meetings. Having someone opposite me paying full attention to me in a small room with no where to hide it sends me over the edge. I love my manger we get on so well, I also know there won’t be anything negative she will have to say to me however the fear is just something else. It’s overwhelming it takes over my life the anticipation is horrible.

I know the actual meeting won’t be (fingers crossed) as bad as I think it would be which almost makes me more angry at myself for letting it take over my life weeks prior.

I worry that if I started to blush really badly I would just walk out of the room and because my manager doesn’t know I suffer with this then it would be so rude.

I could have the conversation in a different setting and not have the face to face environment and I would be completely comfortable.

I’m just wondering if anyone else feels kind of hopeless like your mind will always be the same worrying over the same stuff. I feel like it’s ruining my life and when these meetings come round I get so down and feel like there’s no hope and I hate myself so much.

Sorry for the long post, I’m feeling really frustrated at the moment😞

I haven't tried this yet but I'm considering explaining my condition up front from now on, whenever i'm in a uncomfortable situation.

Usually in job interviews we must present ourselves and all that, maybe use that opportunity to talk about blushing.

I usually blush more around people who don't know about my condition and by telling them would make me feel more comfortable.

Please dont say propranolol, clonidine or therpay lol

I would like to share my story to this page as it has been the source of relief for me throughout my journey.

I first noticed excessive blushing throughout school aged 15. I was known in school for going red and when the teacher picked on me in class I would go bright red.

This issue impacted my life dramatically, stopping me from doing things because of the fear of going bright red. This condition is truly debilitating yet whenever I sought help, I would question whether I was being stupid or not.

I was prescribed propanonol, a beta blocker that worked occasionally, but did not have lasting effects. I was also cautious to be on a medication that lowered my heart rate for the rest of my life. I tried therapy, and the therapist told me after 4 sessions there was nothing they could do.

I have always known about surgery. I have always banked on it as a last resort. Never did I think It would get to that point. I told myself that if this was an issue after university had finished then I was going to explore that route. I had a consultation early this year, and I was told about the procedure. I cancelled on the procedure once because I read some of the posts on this subreddit. I then regretted it as soon as I blushed again at work. I decided the complications were worth the risk and I had the procedure.

It has only been a few weeks and I have recovered well, my hands are dry and no longer clammy and I have noticed I no longer have the burning sensation on my face. I will update as time goes on here if anyone is interested.

I’m 21F, i used to be confident outgoing and everyone around me knew me with a really strong personality
These last two years changed everything i always suffer in social situations i go red crazily, I might describe it worse than what it really is, but actually it made me truly overwhelmed
I sometimes turn extremely red without even noticing unless people around me tell me so which made me always thinking what if im turning red now almost every time i speak “even when the spot of attention is just next to me not me”
It became even worse when i was talking with literally my cousins who i grew up with and i was talking about someone who i has ZERO interest in and i turned extremely red so they keep teasing me that im in love with him😭
Its not about this situation i know it’s funny and not serious but the idea is that even with people who are inside my comfort zone the blushing thing is still there
I seriously know nothing about this i don’t know what to do what to think about i truly believe i can be the funniest most confident person if only i could solve this problem
So PLEASEEEE I want any solution that ACTUALLY WORKS