Super Red Face?

[5thofjuly]

Hi,

  After years of hating exercise, I finally completed C25K. I still hate exercise, but I've continued on (my goal now is to keep getting faster.) DH did the same program, but while he gets super sweaty everywhere, I seem to only get sweaty from my scalp and my face turns beet red. It's almost purple. Does this happen to anyone else? And is there any way to keep it from happening?

  I have high blood pressure but it's well controlled with medication, and I drink plenty of fluids. I don't think I'm going to die or anything, but it's pretty embarrassing.

[joenali]

It happens when you work hard. It's normal. Don't be embarrassed!!

[mcfelix]

Yes that happens to me. I have rosy checks normally so I get beet red when I exercise, particularly in the heat. I actually get hives on my shoulders and back - I've seen a dr and that's caused by allergies. It can be a little embarrassing when people ask me if I'm okay, but I've gotten used to it. It is what it is!

[shellfish26]

Me too. Every time I come back from a daytime run, I think "Maaaannn, I'm sunburned. Oh wait. ". Sometimes I'm still red even after my shower.

[Brit]

I turn red super easily in general, like even if someone says my name in a meeting or something. Running has always made me turn super red, even shades of purple sometimes. There have been many times that people have asked me if I was ok.

I don't know of any way to prevent the redness, but it seems to go away faster if I suck on ice.

[SuziSaysDa]

This happens to me, especially in the heat. I run before work and its still about 85 - when I get home my face is bad. I try to spend a few minutes under the cold shower - but usually when I leave (about thirty minutes after I finish my run) I am still a bit red.a

I cannot change it and I will not stop running - so I don't care. I don't do race photos either b/c of this problem.

[msturtle143]

Aug 7, 2013 8:20:16 GMT -5 Brit said:

I turn red super easily in general, like even if someone says my name in a meeting or something. Running has always made me turn super red, even shades of purple sometimes. There have been many times that people have asked me if I was ok.

I don't know of any way to prevent the redness, but it seems to go away faster if I suck on ice.

This is me too. It sucks!

My face did use to turn red when I am exercising but come to think of it, I haven't looked too red lately after my long run (4mi...long for me.)

[zoidberg]

My face gets SO RED and stays that way forever. I imagine people who see me walking home from the gym think I am having a fit of some sort.

Normal.

[mrsjthompson]

People used to give me funny looks at the Y because my face got SO red. It's gotten better as I've gotten a little more fit.

[melmel48]

I get VERY red. I just ran a 5k ( and set a PR!) and ran into my neighbor when I got home. I asked how his weight loss was going and he was asking about mine. He said "your face" and I interrupted to say " I just ran a 5k!" to defend my red face. He was actually trying to say he could tell I have lost weight mostly in my face. Oops!

I don't really let it bother me anymore, but I used to hate my red face. Now I think of it as an awesome thing because people know I have been working out!

I do blush easily though when embarrassed. I don't like that at all.

[Deleted]

It could be a histamine reaction. I have this problem as well. I find that a daily anti-histamine or even an anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen can help.

[mrsmc08]

I look sunburned after a hard workout, even when I workout at 4:30am. I just take it as my body being red with happiness.

[5thofjuly]

Like some of you I also blush really easily and get red cheeks when I drink alcohol. Maybe they're all related somehow.

[biomaj5]

My face turns various shades of red/purple. At first I was worried, but it seems to be fine. All of the people in the gym are used to it now, although I tend to scare EMTs at races lol. I'm very fair-skinned, and blush easily.

[doctorchick]

There's a name for the intense flush - rosacea - and it can have all sorts of triggers (e.g., exercise, stress/anxiety, alcohol, spicy foods). Fair-skinned people are especially prone to it (thank you, Irish ancestors...). The good news is that it can be controlled, though not cured. Some topical lotions can help, and if you're willing to pony up, the superficial blood vessels can be zapped with lasers.

I'm considering the laser treatment, but in the mean time, there are a number of anti-redness lotions and potions. I've found that Boots No7's redness relief gel (at Target) helps over time, and I'm too cheap to try the pricier options available at Sephora.

[Deleted]

I get really red too when I workout. People actually ask me all the time if I am ok after I workout because I get so red. Once I cool down it goes away relatively quickly.