DermNet provides Google Translate, a free machine translation service. Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages. Flushing occurs because the blood vessels in the skin dilate. When flushing is produced by the activity of the nerves to the blood vessels, it is accompanied by sweating. Agents which act directly on the blood vessels cause dry flushing. Flushing Nicotinic acid-induced flushing. Alcohol may also cause flushing while mushrooms are consumed, and in patients with the rare tumour , carcinoid.

Flushing is a term used to describe transient and episodic reddening of the skin. It occurs most commonly on the face and neck but less conspicuous changes may occur over the entire body. Flushing is the visible sign of a generalised increase in the skin blood flow that occurs with relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle.

Home » Decision Support in Medicine » Dermatology. The following questions are helpful in narrowing down the differential diagnosis of the flushing patient:. On physical exam, there may or may not be specific physical findings, especially if the patient is not currently having an episode of flushing; however, one should look for certain clues that can help narrow down the differential diagnosis.