There are many different treatments for blushing; this page is intended as a simple overview. You can follow the links for further detail.

ETS Surgery

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is an invasive procedure performed by a licensed surgeon usually recommended for those who have problems with excessive sweating and uncontrollable blushing. Breakthroughs in technology have allowed this kind of surgery to evolve to become minimally invasive requiring only an overnight stay in the hospital if no other complications occur. The surgery should take around one to three hours to complete.

Just like any other surgery, ETS has its own risks and side effects. Reports have been gathered that compensatory sweating, or sweating, or sweating in other areas not affected by the surgery more profusely than normal, has been a common side effect. The back and the lower trunk are the usual body areas affected with this kind of side effect.

Surgery is something that many people consider as a last resort. Because of its cost, risks, and usually irreversible nature, conservative alternatives are still being explored to a great extent.

Beta Blockers

You’ll find that a lot of people use beta blockers for public speaking. Apparently they somehow suppress sympathetic adrenaline production which actually prevents the increase in heart rate and hence anxiety and stress felt in high pressure situations. Stage fright becomes almost impossible! The usual symptoms of social or performance anxiety, such as racing heart rate, shakes and also blushing are reduced dramatically. I’m not a doctor so unable to advise specifically but these drugs are often considered preferable to drugs such as valium or xanax (benzodiazepine) which can be addictive.

There are several different beta blockers which can be suitable for treatment of blushing and other social anxiety related conditions, and there are different brand names for each drug. Take care as some have side effects (eg. propranolol can make asthma symptoms worse).

Always seek medical advice before taking drugs of any type.

Hypnosis

People today are starting to explore other areas to conservatively treat conditions that are very dependent on perception. Although quite unconventional, hypnosis is starting to be part of the checklist of those fighting against anxiety problems, panic attacks, alcohol and smoking issues, and other kinds of behavior related crises.

The mind is the most powerful element being considered to help against blushing in those who believe in hypnosis. The process of hypnosis targets to change the person’s perception of events that make them vulnerable to blushing. Since the process of hypnosis requires a great deal of concentration, it is important that you don’t jump into doing in half-heartedly.

Cognitive Therapy

A trip to your therapist could also give you answers for your blushing problems. For people who don’t blush, blushing isn’t so much of a deal. As a result, they don’t develop anxious feelings about it. People who blush and worry about their blushing, on the other hand, create the problem by themselves by thinking that it is a big deal, that the whole world cares about it, and that they should be ashamed of it.

In cognitive therapy, the therapist will facilitate challenging the thoughts and perceptions of events that cause you to blush. The goal is to program your mind to stop magnifying negative events and to encourage you to look into the positive elements that you’ve been minimizing all this time in situations that make you blush uncontrollably.

Cognitive therapy requires you to actively work on how you think and feel. Be sure you are ready to stand up against yourself once you go for it.

Herbal Treatments

Although they are not recommended as a stand-alone solution, herbal treatments may be used side by side with your regular visits to your therapist to overcome your blushing problems. Don’t go for the herbal route without talking to a licensed medical professional. Even though herbal remedies are known for their natural quality and cost effective nature, different herbs have different effects on different people. A doctor who specializes in natural medicine should be able to talk to you about your options for going the natural way.

Breathe deeply. Yes, deep breathing helps to stop blushing because oxygen, which is in the air you breathe, helps you relax. Every single time a person blushes, the heart beats more rapidly and the person tends to breath faster. When a person breathes faster than usual, the oxygen from the air is not effectively used by the body. Go find a comfortable spot where you can breathe. Be sure that you feel the rise and fall of your abdomen, as Brad says, because this is your clue that you are breathing the right way.

Brad touches on the physical nature of a blush and he wants you to realize that by establishing control over your own body, you have the power to stop blushing. The author of the book “Blushing Breakthrough,” Jim Baker, can show you a lot of ways to overcome that blushing problem. You can also visit Jim’s website to learn more about blushing cures.

If you take a step back to explore the science of blushing, you will find out that blushing is mainly caused by negative thoughts and emotions leading to anxiety – which is of the mind – that manifest physically through obvious signs like blushing – which is of the body. Michelle explains that exercise can do the trick by helping you release your body’s happy hormone. Endorphins, which are the body’s natural happy hormones, work against anxiety and depression. Since they serve as the body’s natural morphine, endorphins help you stay away from those thoughts and emotions that could give you that uncomfortable blushing problem by allowing their release through exercise. Just imagine how happy you could always be.

Keep that happy hormone at work and learn more about how to stop blushing through Jim Baker’s book “Blushing Breakthrough.” Stay happy!

A panic attack is simply fear in the highest degree of intensity. A previous panic attack may lead to another one because of being too anxious of having another attack. And the cycle could go on. Nicole explains that it has got to stop. She wants you to know that a panic attack is not reason enough for you to shut yourself away from the rest of the world and that there is a solution to your blushing problem.  Control your mind instead of allowing it to control you. Stop feeding your own thoughts from a negative experience. Conquer your emotions and stay on top of them at all times.

The mind is very powerful. It is in itself the problem and the solution to panic attacks that cause blushing. Use it wisely.

The author Jim Baker, through his book “Blushing Breakthrough,” presents a lot of ways on how to conquer your mind and emotions to prevent blushing. You can also check out Jim’s website to get a better idea of how to deal with blushing problems.

Shine the spotlight to the person you’re speaking with, Molly suggests. Ask a lot of questions and direct the air of attention to that person. In that way, you give yourself a chance to warm up and adjust to the unfamiliar situation to prevent the embarrassment that would cause you to blush.

Molly explains how important it is that you like yourself. Know yourself inside and out and learn how you can introduce yourself to others with confidence. Don’t try to impress. It’s not a healthy way to go. There’s no other way to create a good impression than introducing yourself with confidence. Overcoming blushing problems is very possible and Jim Baker’s book “Blushing Breakthrough” will help you learn how. You can also visit http://www.blushingbreakthrough.com to learn more about how to stop blushing.

Hold it right there. This may seem a little extreme but you may want to consider surgery.

ETS, or Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, is an invasive surgical procedure that is usually done on people who have problems such as excessive blushing and hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.  The purpose of the surgery is to destroy the nerve that supplies the signals that cause a person to blush or sweat out of normal proportions.

Micro ETS

With technology, conventional methods of performing ETS are pinned to history giving way to Micro ETS. With Micro ETS the surgeon makes two or three cuts on the lateral side of the chest in between the ribs. In one of the cuts, the surgeon inserts a device with a camera connected to a screen monitor that would serve as the guide in performing the procedure. The camera eliminates the need to make a bigger and deeper cut requiring lengthier hospital stay and a longer time for recovery as in the conventional method of ETS. The rest of the cuts are where the other necessary instruments are inserted. The surgeon finds the nerves supplying the signals that cause excessive blushing or sweating and destroys or cuts them. Micro ETS makes the procedure minimally invasive decreasing the risks of the surgery.

If you want to reserve the chance of being able to reverse the operation in case you might regret it, you can opt for having titanium clips applied to clamp the nerve instead of having it destroyed. Remember though that reversal will only be effective if it is done within days or just a few weeks after the initial procedure.

The entire operation should take about one to three hours in total and in normal circumstances where no adverse complications occur, patients are normally made to stay just overnight in the hospital.

ETS Surgery Cost

The cost of ETS surgery may vary depending on the surgeon you hire to perform the surgery and even the place or country where you want to have the surgery done. Nonetheless, the average cost of a Micro ETS should be around 10,000 US dollars.

ETS Surgery Side Effects

 One of the most common side effects of ETS surgery is compensatory sweating. People who undergo ETS surgery tend to sweat more in areas not affected by the surgery such as the back and the lower belly. Some people who experience it said that the condition gets better the farther away from the day of the surgery they are; however, there are also those who think that the new sweating problem is far worse than the blushing problem the surgery was supposed to fix.

Other side effects include Horner’s syndrome where the eyelids droop and the pupils constrict, bleeding, and air leakage from the lungs. There are also reported cases of patients having difficulty regulating their body temperature as a result of the procedure. 

All surgeries have risks. No matter how worst you think your blushing problem is, careful consideration is prudent before moving forward with any surgery to weigh the risks. Although medical professionals have a certain checklist to follow when you ask them about side effects of any surgery, every person’s body is unique. Genetics, heredity, and lifestyle are examples of factors that make every person different from another in terms of potential reactions that can result from surgery.

No matter how minimally invasive, surgery is still surgery. Don’t rush into it. Don’t make society dictate what you should or should not do to your body. You have the right to decide.

Stress, in its worst, is an experience that involves a wide range of unwelcome physical symptoms, mental tension, and emotional exhaustion. These effects are brought about by an array of internal body changes in reaction to a detected threat to one’s overall well being.

Whenever the body identifies a stressful stimulus, a hormone called adrenaline is released. This hormone attaches to receptors found in major body organs such as the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, and the blood vessels to enable these organs to actively participate in the body’s effort to fight and defeat the stressful stimulus. In simpler terms, the heart beats faster, the lungs demand more air so breathing becomes faster, the kidneys work harder to excrete more waste as evident in sweating, and the arteries constrict to raise the blood pressure. This is the body’s natural reaction to stress.

Nevertheless, the physical signs and symptoms that manifest make the body’s honest effort to help counteract stress gets unrecognized and even unappreciated. This is where beta blockers come in.

Beta blockers are drugs that help minimize the body’s reaction to a stressful situation. They are commonly known drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms by preventing adrenaline from attaching to their receptors so as not to activate the major organs of the body. Beta blockers keep the body organs relaxed in the event of stress.

Beta Blockers for Blushing

Blushing, which is the sudden reddening of the face, is one of the body’s natural responses to stress. To its great misfortune, it is one of the most dreaded responses. However, there’s good news for all you blushers out there. Since beta blockers diminish body reactions to stress that cause uncontrollable blushing, these drugs can be used to help you overcome your blushing problems. 

Blushing, alongside with sweating, trembling of hands, shaking of voice, and weakening of the knees, is a common reaction to social anxiety. The pressure you put on yourself to perfect an impromptu speech, say the right words on your first date, or give a flawless first impression of yourself to someone you just met is detected by the body as a threat. Beta blockers will help minimize the body’s reaction to allow you to relax and keep yourself calm when you have to face the world at your best.

Beta Blockers and Anxiety 

Anxiety is a very uncomfortable feeling. The more you try to get rid of it during an anxiety attack the more anxious you just get. Beta blockers could play a very important role in managing anxiety. Although this drug does not have a direct effect on the root cause of anxiety, it is vital in dealing with the symptoms that come along with being anxious such as increase in heart rate and respirations, trembling of hands, shaking of voice, and sweating. 

With the advice of their doctors, some people with social phobia who are anticipating a potentially stressful situation – like a performance or a public speech – take beta blockers in advance. It’s a way for them to manage their nerves before stepping into the spotlight.

It is very important to take note, however, that beta blockers do not cure anxiety. They do not have an effect on the emotions associated with an anxiety attack. Beta blockers help manage the symptoms but do not eliminate the source of it. They are not suggested for long-term treatment of anxiety. Talk to a professional if you think that your anxiety problems are getting in the way. Always remember that confidence is not something you get from medication. It has to come from within you.

Side Effects of Beta Blockers 

All medications have side effects. So do beta blockers. It is important that aside from the intended therapeutic effects, the side effects are also taken into account when considering beta blocker therapy.

To make a short list of it, common side effects of beta blocker therapy are nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, fatigue, weakness, cold hands and feet, and slower than normal pulse.

Beta blockers are not recommended for those who are suffering from heart conditions that cause the heart to beat slower than usual as the drugs may only aggravate the existing heart problem. Asthmatic people are also contraindicated to engage in beta blocker therapy. Asthma is a condition where the air passages constrict making it difficult to breath. Beta blockers have the potential to only worsen breathing problems which may worsen asthma, a very reversible condition.  Since beta blockers prevent palpitations and tremors, these drugs are not also indicated for people with diabetes. The blood sugar of a diabetic is in constant fluctuation. Beta blockers are advised against them because they need the palpitations and tremors to help them recognize – without checking their blood sugar level – that their sugar is dropping far too low.

List of Beta Blockers

Non-selective blockers that target all B1, B2, and B3 beta receptors, include Alprenelol, Bucindolol, Carteolol, Carvedilol, Labetalol, Nadolol,   Oxprenolol, Penbutolol, Pindolol, Propanolol, Sotalol, and Timolol.

There is a kind of beta blocker that acts specifically on receptors found in the heart and kidneys and they are referred to as B1 beta blockers. This type of beta blocker is the one most prescribe to manage symptoms of anxiety. It includes Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Celiprolol, Esmolol, Metoprolol, Nebivolol.

The suffix “-olol” is unique to beta blockers so don’t worry if you don’t get to memorize the long list of drug names.

Where can I get beta blockers?

Your ultimate and prime responsibility when considering going into beta blocker therapy to keep your nerves down is to make sure you talk to your doctor about it. NEVER take a beta blocker without a prescription. It may have worked out well for your friend but it doesn’t mean that things will work out the exact same way for you if you take the same drug regimen.

Talk to your doctor. Once you have that prescription, it should be pretty easy to buy beta blockers in any pharmacy. Don’t even think about asking for your friend’s leftover pills. It just doesn’t work that way.

Medication can help you manage what is physical. It can temporarily alleviate symptoms that you don’t want to have. But remember, no amount of drug can change the way you perceive yourself and the world around you. Always keep your body, your mind, and your emotions in check. Pay attention to everything that is you.

Christina also recommends participating more in public events. Build confidence by going more often for the spotlight. Confidence can be a great blushing cure if you learn how to keep it no matter how bad the situation can get. Don’t be too self-conscious and consume yourself in your own emotions because there are other people too and you have to acknowledge that. You can get more help and learn about ways to stop blushing through the book “Blushing Breakthrough”.

Avoidance is not the blushing cure. It’s an escape, not a solution.

Roger explains that there is nothing much that separates the normal person from one who has social anxiety. They both experience and feel the same emotions. The difference comes in when the emotions have to be expressed. The normal person would enjoy the feelings. The person suffering from social anxiety would put too much pressure on himself in perfecting the expression of the emotions to such a point where he gets embarrassed at the thought of embarrassing himself. It becomes a cycle. What’s really happening is that the person with social anxiety fears the embarrassment that isn’t there yet. That fear then leads to blushing which causes the real embarrassment.

Roger gives a number of helpful and easy-to-follow tips to stop blushing in these situations. Stop, take a step back, and enjoy the emotions with flying colors. Validate your feelings and ideas with others involved so you understand that you’re doing just fine and that others feel the same way too. It is important that you feel safe in expressing your feelings to get yourself to stop blushing. You can learn more and get more help about ways to stop blushing by reading Jim Baker’s book “Blushing Breakthrough”.

Sarah, the tipster on this video “Tips on How to Control Your Gratitude towards Others that May Cause You Blushing,” tells you how you can overcome these intense emotions that cause you to blush your way out of gratitude. Feeling that sense of gratitude over somebody who has made a difference for you is an intense feeling in itself. It is potentially a very powerful source of blushing problems as you tend to put pressure on yourself to give out the grandest gesture to show appreciation. Sarah’s advice is to relax. Help always comes around and you can’t continue to feel weird about being thankful. You have to get used to that feeling and find ways to overcome the blushing problem.

Always be ready with a quick and simple “thank you.” More often than not, the grandest gesture of gratitude is the simplest of all. Who would’ve thought that blushing cure would come in just two words. Don’t stress yourself too much because there are many ways to overcome blushing problems which you can find in Jim Baker’s book “Blushing Breakthrough.”