Red Face when exercising

[oopsydaisee]

Recently starting running, which is the first type of exercise I actually enjoy. However, my face gets SO red like a tomato and I find it embarrassing. Anyone know of any tips to reduce this as I am on the verge of quitting because of it. I’ve red taking an antihistamine before can help but I did try it and it didn’t seem to make a difference really.

Please don't quit! I too, am of the severely red faced variety after exercise. Who cares!?! If anyone asks just say it's your post exercise glow.

Absolutely. So empowering

Ah this is me too. I totally get the embarrassment but just push through it - anyone who see’s you won’t care and you’ll be running past anyway. Don’t give up an exercise you’re enjoying for this!

I once stopped off at a supermarket at mile 7-8 of a long run to buy an emergency Red Bull to get me up a long, sloggy hill and complete the last few miles.

The lady at the till scanned the can and said "16?...18?..." and before she actually asked the question to dig us into an IDless awkward situation, I replied back "37"
"Clearly over 25" was then pressed.
I really needed that caffiene boost!

Last IDed (twice) at 42, but not in a state of red-faced exercise mode, but the good circulation in facial capillaries is clearly beneficial

it’s pretty normal I think. I spent 28 years having to exercise covered head to toe in hives so I got quite used to answering people who commented on it
I go red and get thousands of hives but now finally on a medication that stops the hives (still red though!)

Trust me. No one cares how red your face is.

Oh my god! This is me! I only have to walk into a gym and I am all red and sweaty! I get the white circle around the hairline and literally my Husband laughs his socks off! It takes a good few hours for me to get back to normal.
I am that bad, that a friends partner said he'd seen me at the side of the road and he stopped as he thought it was a traffic light!!! Mortified!
Safe to say I no longer go to the gym!
I do find exercising in the winter months a lot easier, as summer time is just awful!

I use Rosalique to tone down/disguise redness. Perhaps you could hold of a sample first to see if it does the trick for you. I buy mine online direct from Rosalique. I'm a fellow redfacer at the gym, but I'm not the only one! So i just carry on.

A fellow tomato face here. I have learned over the years to laugh it off. I'm fair skinned and I can't help it. If you feel self conscious go running at quiet times. Take a flannel that you can put cold water on. But try not to let it bother you as literally nobody else cares and the odd 'you're so red' should become water off the ducks back at a certain age.

It'll die down the fitter you get. It's not a reason to give up.

I'm a lifelong runner, hiker, gym-goer. I go ILLUMINOUS bright red and look like I've been sunburnt, and it lasts for hours!

I also sweat like crazy, so come out of the gym drenched from head to toe.
I honestly quite like it - it makes me know I've worked hard!

Try being ginger and red-faced. I glow as bright as my hair and can't leave the gym without using the face ID machine to let me out. I put my hair in braids as well, so I look like an angry Pippy Longstockings.

Might try the antihistamine and some cream, this morning because I have a dance-fit class, and it's always held in front of a wall of mirrors. I try and hide behind the gym machinery there so I don't have to watch myself in the mirrors.

I'd take it as evidence you really pushed yourself, which is admirable!

Not necessarily. I am pretty fit, I run around four miles every day and longer on some days (when I don't have work) and I spin and do Pilates. I am STILL red faced by about mile three.

I used to get very red and now I'm exercising more vigorously and more regularly, I get less red. Can't think what that might signify but maybe it will reduce if you do more and more often?

On the plus side you are so fabulous you can get to 3 miles before your body starts working that hard 💪 💪 💪.

I feel like we need some Red Face Running sessions so we can all go beetroot together and feel less like we stand out.

I’m the same, hideously red faced for hours. I’ve switched to weights and cycling, no red face!

Thank you! I have never felt fabulous before, now I shall go out and celebrate my beetroot complexion!😡(I know it's meant to be 'anger' but it's the only red faced emoji I can find).

I am unfit and overweight. In an attempt to get moving and slightly fitter (bad back and dodgy knees are limiting what I can do) I have started line dancing.

I'm loving it, but somewhat embarrassed by my tomato face at the end of the hour long class! No one else even breaks a sweat. But I am determined to keep going - it's obviously doing me good.

I find the same, so try to factor in a very long warm down after I've stopped physically running, to allow my face to return to a somewhat 'normal' colour. Other than this, no magic solution sorry :(

This thread makes me think maybe I could have the mental strength to get back to exercise. I was really physically active in my teens and early twenties but during my late twenties i gave all of it up, I just couldn't deal with comments from friends and strangers about my red face. They ranged from concern to mild amusement to full on laughing and taking pictures (thankfully before social media!).

Another one here who gets a very red face, and I also have a very sweaty face. When it’s hot it takes ages to calm down! It’s just one of those things unfortunately.

Honestly give it a go. I started back now I don’t have the hives any more
My fave discoveries have been the peloton app - for walks, weights and stretching
wild swimming - some just come for the walk and a coffee, some full on swim, some paddle. Usually dogs, children and cake involved! I’m a wimp and only turn up in summer but am welcomed as much as year round people
netball - couch to court is a great starting programme and really social

I joined a super supporting FB running group years ago and plucked up the courage to post a photo of myself running the final stretch of a 10k on a post about the 'float' phase of running. Of course I apologised for the red face but I was so overwhelmed by women replying and telling how strong I looked. As women we so rarely get told we look strong and we worry about looking red or less feminine - it was a massive (and positive) mindset shift for me and I loved it! Keep being strong!

I'm like this too. I go a bright red sweaty mess and stay red for absolutely ages afterwards, even after I've cooled down and showered etc. It doesn't make any difference how fit I am either. I think it's just something that happens to some people, especially if you have very fair skin.