• Question: What happens when you blush and is there a way to stop yourself from doing it?

    Asked by liblob97 to Lily, Mark, Paul, Sarah on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Mark Roberts

      Mark Roberts answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      I should know I guess as I do it often!

      So blushing is when the blood vessels (capillaries) in your cheeks dilate so blood is let into them so you go bright red – Interesbgly your skin in your cheeks has the most blood vessels of any part of your skin!

      As to why – well it’s usually in response to an emotional state or when you get hot (blood is going to the body surface to cool down!) also drugs can change the ability of blood vessels to dilate – so thay can cause it too.

      We don’t know that much about why some people blush more than others, but we do know that they do so perhaps there is a ‘blushing gene’

      As for stopping it – not really, though there are drugs you can take which will change your ability to blush they usually effect other things though

      Anyway for more info have a look at:
      http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blushing/Pages/Introduction.aspx

    • Photo: Sarah Bardsley

      Sarah Bardsley answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Blushing happens when blood flow increases to the skin. It normally happens when we’re embarrassed, ashamed and nervous. I get it even now – often in meetings when I’m feeling fine but it will still happen! I try and concentrate on the other person and how they’re feeling rather than thinking about myself. Hope that helps!!

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