Skin blushing/flushing: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services if flushing occurs with:

   • Trouble breathing, wheezing, or throat tightness
   • Swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, or throat
   • Fainting, severe dizziness, confusion, or blue-grey lips
   • Sudden chest pain, one-sided weakness, or a severe unusual headache

   These symptoms may indicate a serious allergic reaction or another emergency.

   If you have been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector for severe allergies, use it as directed and call emergency services.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek same-day medical advice if new flushing occurs with fever, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, a very fast heartbeat, or feeling seriously unwell.

   Painful, rapidly spreading redness with fever also needs prompt assessment because it may be a skin infection rather than simple flushing.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a routine appointment if the episodes:

   • Keep returning without a clear trigger
   • Last longer or become more intense
   • Began after starting or changing a medicine
   • Come with ongoing diarrhoea, wheezing, headaches, or racing heartbeats
   • Cause persistent facial redness, eye irritation, or skin changes
   • Affect your confidence, sleep, work, or social life

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Skin blushing/flushing. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.