To hate how blotchy I go when I'm under pressure?

[AlexaNeverListens]

Literally that. It goes all up my chest and neck. Is there anything I can do to stop it? It's so embarrassing

I’m similar! Are you very pale with naturally rosy cheeks? I am and I’ve always gone so red and blotchy all over my face, neck and chest when I’m stressed out. It seems to have got slightly better the older I’ve become (I’m in my 30s) it was awful back in my early 20s. I’m not sure what’s changed for me to be honest, generally just trying to be a bit more relaxed. Come to think of it since I had my children it hasn’t been as much of an issue so is it possible it’s partly hormonal? I don’t know!

I feel your pain and was just talking to my dh about this today. I was once giving a presentation as part of an interview and one of the interviewers said "lets just sit and see how red her face will go"...bastard

Im in my late 50s now and can confirm it does improve with age

Yes! I'm pale skinned and blue eyed and I used to blush horribly when I was younger.
Now, I just get red horrible blotches all over my chest and neck when I'm upset, angry or 'in the limelight'. I hate going to meetings at work as I go blotchy as soon as I have to address the room. And I'm not even a nervous person particularly.
I'd be rubbish at poker 😂

@Gatekeeper, bastard indeed. How horrible ....

And anyone saying that to me would make me glow up like a nuclear power station!

Mine turned into Rosacea in my 50’s 😡

I'm brown eyed and suffer from exactly the same. So even I I fiend confidence, I give myself away if I'm not working a polo neck!

I get a blotchy neck and chest when I drink alcohol, eat spicy food or have an orgasm. None of which I intend to stop doing

I take Propranolol an hour before I have to present, it’s a game changer. Ask your GP

@dramaqueen

Really? My GP wants to put me on that for heart palpitations. I had no idea it would help with blotches??
Thanks for the advice!

I took it for palpitations and then found out many take it to help with public speaking. It is probably worth a go

I am similar, I hate it. I think zoom has made it worse because I can see it starting and that in turn makes me more stressed. It’s also worse if I’ve had wine the night before, unfortunately...

I used to have it, it was awful in interviews as I’d look like I was about to burst into tears too. What helped is understanding /knowing when it was happening, I’d visualise it coming up like lava out of a volcano... and then I’d try and reduce the lava back down in my mind, by relaxing and breathing slower. Sounds weird but helped a lot and I don’t really get it at all

I'm very pale and this, and blushing, used to happen all the time (and people commented on it which made it worse). It's finally stopped in my fifties.

Me too and I get it after the shower, during sex and also when blushing or nervous!! Never knew until someone pointed it out to me!! Now I'm so conscious of it!

I suffer with this too, as does my mother. I hate it 😡

@Lockdownlife2021 literally same!! I hate it, it’s like an anxiety sometimes!

Oh yes, I get blotches on my chest which spread up my neck, then usually just the one really red cheek!

I was once having rather stressful day, and dashed out of my tiny side room into the main office to catch the MD as he walked past. I handed him something to sign and, in front of the entire workforce he looked critically at me and said, "Are you quite alright Sandy? You look rather...flushed."

Everyone turned to stare and I went the colour of a lobster, it was hideous. I'm now 48 and also have stubborn roseacea.

I also recommend propranolol!

Well at least I'm not alone!
I left a company once and they'd bought me a necklace as a leaving gift. My friend put it on for me and then my boss said, in front of about 30 people "and just so you know, the back of your neck goes just as blotchy as the front"!!!! That was over 20 years ago and I've never forgotten it!
I'm 47 next week so hopefully I'll grow out of it soon 😂
I will have a chat with the GP about the propranolol though, thank you

I do this too. Even when I'm only slightly conscious about something.

Same for drinking and orgasm.
It's awful and gives you away if your feeling awkward in any way

@wishywashywoowoo70

It's awful isn't it? I get really embarrassed by it. And the more embarrassed I get, the worse it is

I am exactly the same. Any kind of interview, meeting or appointment and a red, hot, blotchy rash will creep over my chest and up my neck and over my face and the top of my arms. It's so obvious and One woman at work always had to comment loudly every time it happened, which made it worse. I've had people gasp and comment on my 'awful sunburn' before. I don't have any any advice but I'm going to try tips shared here!

I get this. It first became noticeable in my teens and my mother always made such a fuss of it that it made me so self conscious it made it worse.
Mine is bad when I am stressed, feel self-conscious and sometimes when I drink.
I'm late 40s now and I'm not so conscious of it.
If someone draws attention to it in anything other than a subtle, concerned way then they are an idiot and not worth worrying about.