Part of looking good comes from working out. There's no hiding that it turns red when you run. As most people realize, they get hot and sweaty while running, and their face gets exceptionally red. This change isn't a strange occurrence, although, with most athletes, their constant training makes them notice it less. So why does your face turn red when you work out?
Understanding the Condition
Having a red face when you're running just shows that you're hot and fit. The redness comes from the blood rushing to your face, trying to cool it off. When you run, your body starts producing heat through chemical reactions. Too much heat can be disastrous for your body's regular chemical interactions, so it needs to vent heat somewhere. The best place would be the skin since it has such a large surface area. To ensure that the maximum amount of heat is transferred to the outside, your body dilates your blood vessels, increasing blood flow to particular areas. This increased blood flow takes excess heat from within the body and dissipates it to the outside, with the help of sweat.
The Science Behind That Red Face
Exercise tends to lead to more blood flow. According to the American Physiological Society, men who exercise tend to have 40% more blood flow to their skin. This conclusion holds with what we know about the dilation of the blood vessels leading to the skin. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise mentions that this might be because these athletes have trained their blood vessels to dilate more readily than men who don't exercise as much. Since these athletes need that heat to be removed as quickly as possible, their training allows them to be more efficient in managing the building up heat within their bodies.
Not All Red Faces Are Good
While having a red face after exercising isn't so bad, it could also signal more than just your body venting excess heat. A scarlet countenance might be an early signal for heatstroke. If you've been running in a hot climate over a long period, this may be a severe concern to take note of. Usually, if you're close to getting a heat stroke, your body will have additional ill effects such as nausea or dizziness that you will also get from Botox unless your clinician has undertaken the correct Botox training courses. Some unfortunate runners are prone to getting hives from their running, usually triggered by sweating. Yet others may suffer from rosacea, and the redness may result from the condition acting up.
Dealing With a Red Face
There are a few things you can do to help your red face. Firstly, the redness may be a sign of overexertion. You can avoid that by being less intense in your workouts, at least until your body has caught up to your demands. Rosacea may be a cause as well, but you tend to get rosacea flushing when you're not even exercising. Several medications and topicals exist that might be able to help you come to terms with the condition with less of an impact on your running.
A red face might just be a sign of being a superior athlete. For a lot of people, this may be the most logical solution. If you're running for a while and you notice that your face gets red and flushed, it just means your body has better control over its blood vessel dilation. If you are still concerned, visiting your doctor doesn't hurt. It'll give you the peace of mind to continue your running without any surprising ill effects popping up to bother you.
