Often it is situations of stress or embarrassment that make us blush. In such circumstances our sympathetic nervous system causes the blood vessels of the face to widen, causing an increase in blood flow and a consequent intensification of redness. Knowing that we are blushing only makes our embarrassed state worse. Sounds like a hard cycle to break doesn't it? Fortunately, however, there are many ways to avoid blushing at the wrong time. If you are planning an important event where you want to appear calm, composed and relaxed, you can experiment with a few. The good news for anyone who won't be able to hold back the redness is that there are just as many ways to manage it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Preventing Redness
Step 1. Get ready
Sometimes you may blush at inopportune moments, for example during an important conversation or a public presentation. Feeling confident and prepared will reduce the chances of making a misstep and blushing with embarrassment. In view of an important event, prepare yourself appropriately and be ready to face any possible scenario.
For example, if you have to give a public presentation, make sure you can hit the mark. Organization is the key to success, so carefully prepare all the material you will need (notes, visual aids, etc.). Also, don't forget that practice makes perfect. Review your speech several times until you are perfectly comfortable with the topic. Train in front of an audience and remember to maintain correct posture
Step 2. Believe in yourself more
The important moments do not only concern the workplace, often our social lives also expose us to the risk of feeling embarrassed and therefore of blushing. Being able to feel more confident in social settings will help reduce the chances of feeling uncomfortable. Before you leave the house, make sure you're happy with your appearance and give a short pep talk to yourself. If you are able to convince yourself that you look your best and feel good, you will make others notice it too. When it comes to preventing awkward situations, being confident can be incredibly helpful.
A romantic date is a great example of a social situation in which you risk blushing. To keep the odds in your favor, try to relax before the match. Call a friend for some emotional support or listen to some music that makes you feel good. Prepare some interesting topics to propose in case the conversation fails to get off the ground. Now you are ready, face your appointment with confidence knowing that you will do very well
Step 3. Relax
Being able to keep stress under control will help you reduce the risk of blushing. As you probably know, the more anxious you feel, the more purple you risk becoming. The best thing to do is therefore to relax, especially if you have to face a situation in which it is important to be able not to blush. For example, if you are going to meet your boss to ask for a raise, it is vital that you appear as confident as possible. Often blushing is not synonymous with self-confidence.
There are many ways to promote relaxation of the mind and body. Try taking deep breaths, meditating for a few minutes, or trying to focus on some positive thoughts. Each of these techniques can help you feel calmer and more confident. Remember that, as in everything, it is practice that makes our attempts effective
Step 4. Cool the body
Redness in the face is related to body temperature. When you are hot, the chances of appearing purple are increased. Before dealing with a potentially stressful situation, take a minute to cool down. Sip cold water or expose yourself to cool air from a window or fan.
Step 5. Train your mind
We often tend to blush when we feel nervous and many times it is the fear of blushing that makes us tense. Try using self-hypnosis to help change your perspective on blushing. Pick a time to relax, then picture yourself blushing. Accept the image. Practice until you really feel like you can accept an occasional blush. The chances of blushing might be reduced in your favor!
If you practice yoga or any form of meditation, include self-hypnosis in your daily session
Step 6. Avoid triggering events
The next time you blush, pay attention to the situation and environment you are in. Do you feel stressed? Or maybe you are just hot? Understand what causes you to blush and learn how to avoid them. For some people, stress is the main trigger, but for others it could be sunlight or a particularly spicy food.
Step 7. Welcome your blush
Instead of trying to avoid any possible redness, try to think of it as a positive condition. Many people might find it fascinating! Others may give more confidence to a person who blushes genuinely. Furthermore, in general, there is a tendency not to face a person who blushes. Sometimes blushing could therefore save you from an unpleasant argument!
Method 2 of 3: Manage Redness
Step 1. Use make-up
You finally have an excellent excuse to go to the perfumery! Using cosmetics is one of the simplest ways to mask redness. Apply a primer as a base to get a uniform and lasting result, then choose a foundation suitable for your skin type. Avoid high coverage products to keep the look as natural as possible. The advice is to opt for a cosmetic with a light consistency and intense pigmentation.
Trust the professionalism of an expert. Go to the perfumery and ask the sales staff for advice. Try different options to find the concealer and foundation that best suits your needs
Step 2. Ask your doctor for advice
If you tend to blush because social situations make you feel anxious, your doctor is likely to be able to prescribe a drug to help you control it. Generally the choice could fall on a beta blocker or an antidepressant drug, consult your doctor to find out more.
Step 3. Consider psychotherapy
In trying to manage anxiety, help from a therapist can be very effective. If you know that you tend to blush from stress, consider taking psychotherapy to learn how to manage it. With the support of a therapist, you will be able to identify the triggers of anxiety and learn how to use methods that will allow you to avoid it or manage it with greater confidence.
Unlike psychotherapy, drugs are able to mask the symptoms, but not to solve the problem at its root
Step 4. Be kind to yourself
Being able to stop blushing may take some time. During the process it is important that you manage not to put too much pressure on yourself. Always remember that blushing means manifesting a natural bodily reaction. You are certainly not the only one having to deal with this disorder. The lower the fear of blushing, the lower the chances of it happening.
Step 5. Learn about the solutions offered by surgery
Surgery should only be a last resort and should only be used in the most severe cases. In some cases it has been found to be useful in reducing patients' tendency to blush. Generally, the type of surgery to control skin redness is called endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. Its goal is to cut the nerves that cause the blood vessels in the face to widen in order to prevent redness. As with any surgery, there are risks involved, so discuss the possible consequences with an experienced professional.
Method 3 of 3: Knowing the Causes of Redness
Step 1. Learn to handle unwanted attention
Knowing why you blush will allow you to manage your reaction more effectively. Most people tend to blush when they feel distressed. By unexpectedly finding themselves in the center of attention, even the most confident person could risk blushing.
Step 2. Don't let the fear of blushing make you nervous
The more you worry about blushing, the more your face is likely to turn purple. Anxiety about avoiding blushing is the most common cause of redness. Try to focus your attention elsewhere, anything other than a fear of blushing will do. The less you think about it, the less it will happen!
Step 3. Deal with anxiety
It is a major cause of redness. Anxiety can cause numerous negative physical and mental reactions, skin redness is just one among many. The act of blushing may also be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or an irrational fear of blushing. Since these are problems that need to be solved at the root it is important to receive psychological support.
Step 4. Understand how to deal with any medical condition
Facial flushing could be a symptom of a disease not related to anxiety. One of the most common examples is a skin disease known as rosacea, the symptoms of which are redness and inflammation of the skin. Your doctor will be able to advise you on how to treat rosacea. Another common physical cause of skin redness is menopause.
Step 5. Understand that blushing is normal
When trying to find out the reasons why you blush, it is important to remember that you are not alone in blushing. Most people blush and, from time to time, anyone gets embarrassed! Don't be afraid to feel judged for a reaction that is part of normal human experience.
Advice
- If you feel redness, drink water as hydration helps regulate body temperature.
- Don't forget that blushing means having a completely natural reaction.
