Moderate to severe facial blushing. Blushing commonly originates at the upper chest or base of the neck and extends up to the forehead, ears and can even spread down to include the trunk and legs.

Hyperpyrexia (feelings of burning or tingling) is commonly associated with blushing and is actually much more debilitating to the individual than the mear appearance of blushing on the skin. This condition of Hyperpyrexia associated with facial blushing is little understood and not typically recognized by many physicians. Functional impairment arises from the intense "burning" sensation that becomes so uncomfortable that the individual has to actually stop what they are doing because of the severe inability to concentrate or follow through with the task at hand. Many patients have described the feeling they experience from Hyperpyrexia as "hot flash or burning." This sensation envelops their face/head/neck to such an extend that they seek seclusion to "cool off".

Medications are seldom helpful for this intense "hot or burning" feeling. Beta blockers (i.e.: Propranolol" are commonly used but to little avail). Even when the individual is relaxed, blushing episodes may occur. Sometimes excess sweating of the scalp and face is associated with blushing / hyperpyrexia attacks. This condition often causes the individual to become self-conscious, nonproductive at work or school during the episodes, and to develop a low self esteem. Some patients that I have treated had actually become so severely dysfunctional that they quit work and would go from job to job.