Blushing is a general term applied to a temporary erythema (redness) of the skin, especially the upper thorax, neck, and facial areas. The discoloration results from a brief infusion of blood following a rapid dilation of blood vessels in the affected area.

Erythema may occur as a result of infection, inflammation, or trauma to the skin. Erythema associated with blushing usually has an initiating emotional stimulus. Often blushing is a characteristic response to a set of environmental circumstances. Although the emotional key that triggers the blushing response (e.g., embarrassment at public speaking, flattering comments, etc.) may vary from individual to individual, the physiological alterations in skin circulation remain essentially the same. In all forms of blushing, there is an increase in the diameter of the capillaries (the smallest diameter blood vessels that bridge the arterial and venous system and that are the sites of vascular exchange) underlying...