Flushing propensity predicts fear of blushing

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between fear of blushing and self-rated propensity to flush to physical stimuli. Two hundred and five respondents rated fear of blushing, social anxiety, blushing propensity, facial pallor in threatening situations, and facial flushing to physical exercise, heat and ingesting alcohol. Facial flushing propensity predicted fear of blushing independently of associations with social anxiety, self-rated blushing propensity and other documented predictors. In addition, after controlling for other predictors, facial pallor in threatening situations was associated with reduced fear of blushing. These findings suggest that a predisposition to flush is a marker of a more general hyper-reactivity of facial blood vessels. This predisposition could increase self-awareness of blushing and the odds that blushing is noticed by others, hence augmenting fear of blushing.