Flushing (physiology)

Causes

• abrupt cessation of physical exertion (resulting in heart output in excess of current muscular need for blood flow)
• abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES), usually in patients who have had abdominal surgery
• alcohol flush reaction
• antiestrogens such as tamoxifen
• atropine poisoning
• body contact with warm or hot water (hot tub, bath, shower)
• butorphanol reaction with some narcotic analgesics (since butorphanol is also an antagonist)
• caffeine consumption
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• carcinoid tumor
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially emphysema (also known as "pink puffer")
• cluster headache attack or headache
• compression of the nerve by the sixth thoracic vertebrae
• coughing, particularly severe coughing fits
• Cushing's syndrome
• dehydration
• dysautonomia
• emotions: anger, embarrassment (for this reason it is also called erythema pudoris, from the Latinized Greek word for "redness" and the Latin "of embarrassment")
• fever
• fibromyalgia
• histamines
• homocystinuria (flushing across the cheeks)
• Horner's syndrome
• hot flush
• hyperglycaemia
• hyperstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, especially the vagus nerve
• hyperthyroidism
• inflammation (for example, caused by allergic reaction or infection)
• iron poisoning
• Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction (caused by antibiotics)
• keratosis pilaris rubra faceii
• Kratom
• mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
• mastocytosis
• medullary thyroid cancer
• mixing an antibiotic with alcohol
• neuroendocrine tumors
• niacin (vitamin B₃)
• pheochromocytoma
• polycythemia vera
• powerful vasodilators, such as dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
• severe pain
• sexual arousal, especially orgasm (see: Sex flush)
• sexual intercourse (see: Sex flush)
• sneezing (red nose)
• some recreational drugs, such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines
• spicy foods
• sunburn (erythema)
• tachycardia
• vinpocetine