EMAIL THREAD red faced during exercise . . . okay, so question for you folks. I have really fair skin, the kind that burns w/ 5 minutes of sun exposure, and for as far back as I can remember, whenever I exercise really hard my face turns quite red. If my heart rate is okay and I feel good, am I okay? The reason I ask is that there is an instructor in one of my classes at the gym who keeps singleing me out and telling me to take it easy because i'm "red" ( it's like a boot camp style cardio class . . i know what i'm in for when i go in). Well I feel good and don't want to take it easy during that time, if i took it easy everytime i worked out, i would never lose a single pound! also she happens to be very dark skinned/tan so perhaps she doesn't turn red unless she's super exerted? Wed. Apr 19, 1:20pm

I feel your pain. I'm like that too. One time I had a similiar problem with the instructor and I went up to her after class and basically told her to leave me alone but in a nice way. I explained that my face gets red when I'm really hot, sad, tired, working out, embarassed, etc... and that my doctor has cleared me for exercise so she doesn't have to worry about me. Keep exercising my red faced sister!!!! Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 1:25 PM

OMG, rosy face! Me too! I hate it. I look ridiculous when I work out in the morning bec I show up for work and my face is toamtoe red for the first hour, so its a deterrent because people ask if I'm OK! I'm fair also. I also get red when I drink, get embarassed, or nervous. Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 1:35 PM

yes! thank you ladies! i was worried maybe the instructor knew something i didn't but i'm glad to see that others get red faced easily too!! haha! i may just have to pull her aside next time and explain that i'm not about to flop over! this is why i love peer trainer-such quick responses to anything!! Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 1:43 PM

Yeah, I get really red-faced too. I'm not ultra-pale naturally, but I definitely burn before I tan. I also tend to work out too hard and get my heartrate way above my target range, which seems to happen really really easily. I don't know if this has anything to do with the red face, but, the redness is definitely annoying! I'd advise just talking to the instructor privately, that sounds like great advice! Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 2:23 PM

i turn red very easily too. After class I would explain your siutation to your instructor, maybe he/she has reason to think you need to take it easy. Also make sure you are breathing correctly. Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 2:53 PM

I think it would also be wise to make sure your doctor has approved you for exercise... just in case there could be something wrong! Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 3:43 PM

i just did some research on this recently and some people just get red when they exercise, some don't! And some people can be over exerted which is why your instructor is singling you out. she's probably worried about liability or something like that. If you feel fine, tell her after class and she will probably stop bothering you. I get tomato faced during exercise too-and i feel good! Tuesday, May 16, 2006, 11:35 PM

A face that turns bright red upon exhertion can be a sign of heart problems, but if you are in good health and have normal colesterol/blood pressure/etc you should be fine. if you haven't had a physical within the last year it might not be a bad idea to do so and just verify these things. Now having said that - I am perfectly healthy, have uber fair skin and also get quite red when I exercise, so there are plenty of us! Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 12:55 AM

Add me to the red-faced club. I've been that way all my life. As soon as I start sweating, my cheeks get really red. (even if it's just cause it's ungodly hot outside!) No one has ever told me to take it easy because of it though. Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 8:28 AM

I have this same issue. I have solved it by wearing my heart rate monitor when I work out. If an instructor or trainer asks me if I am okay, I say yes and show them that my heartrate is clearly in the right zone. It also helps me to know when to slow down or step it up. I worked with a trainer and he was always keeping an eye on my HRM and not the color of my face as an indicator of how hard I was working. Thursday, November 30, 2006, 3:29 PM

red face i go red when i work out and am glad to see that i am not alone..jo Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 3:50 PM

I actually avoided working out for over 3 years because of this problem. Now that I've been hitting the gym for almost a year I notice it a lot less often. Only when I run my 5k time trial or something where I really push myself. Best of luck and keep it up tomatoe-faced sisters! :) Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 5:19 PM

We need a red-faced team! I get red faced too! Red hair - whiter than white skin. My kids get red-faced too - they look like they have sunburns and mom-in-law is always on my case to put sunblock on them - it's not the sun, though they just get red like me. It sucks! Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 5:53 PM

red-faced I totally feel all you guy's pain. It's even more embarassing because I'm an Irish dancer, and all the other dancers are perfectly fine, but I'm beet red. I get red! That's it. I get red in all sorts of situations. Even when I'm asleep, and people ask me what happened. Umm, "I took a nap." I wish there was something I coud do about it, because it's kind of embarassing. Wednesday, May 30, 2007, 11:16 PM

splotchy red on chest and arms happens when i work out, drink,get nervous, during sex, in the bath or shower and it is never consistant so it catches me by suprise. I just say "wow look how red my chest is" and it takes away from the embarrassment. I do get emb. when I workout or tan though because when my face gets red and it makes me look like i have a mustache :I) Thursday, May 31, 2007, 5:02 AM

Totally relate...my husband too...our kids are doomed! Doesn't seem to matter how well adjusted, comfortable, or in-shape I am... I just lean alittle red. Thursday, May 31, 2007, 12:49 PM

I too have been redfaced since I was a kid. And although I dont get red-faced easily, when I do, I get blood red and sometimes purple. But thats only when I play basketball or run for a long time. Normal activities like weight training gets me a little red but that goes away after a few minutes. Also I get the blotchy skin on my chest, after I workout/ sex. How in the heck do we fix this? Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 7:35 AM

Not just fair-skinned redheads! I am of medium-complexion, and a brunette (shhh... I highlight it blonde!), and I have for my entire life gotten severely red-faced during exercise. I was a cheerleader in high school and college, and every summer at camp, one (or more) of the instructors would tell me to take it easy. My squad and I would tell them that I just get red, but they would always keep an eye on me. It was so embarrassing that by the end of every game we cheered and danced at, my face would be beet red and everyone else's would be fine. At the end of my first 5K, a volunteer came up to me and handed me a bottle of Propel, took my arm guiding me to a bench and told me to sit down and put my head between my legs. After giving him my most bewildered, "what the..?" look, he started with, "your face..." and I just smiled and explained that it just gets red - I wasn't out of breath, my heartrate was normal, etc., etc. It took some convincing but he finally let me go. It never fails that if someone is at our house when I get home from running that they'll comment on my face. I always have to continually splash cold water on my face and/or wrap a cool towel around my neck to get it back to normal, but even with that it takes a while. I have no idea how to stop it, or if I can. Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 9:23 AM

Hey, I hear you, only you are lucky that you turn red only in the gym, I go outside and its like sizzle freakazoid on the loose, I burn so easy with the sun, you should see my scalp, but good for you for not giving up something you like just because some one is tellilng you different. Ask your doctor about that heart rate though, I think as long as you don't get lightheaded you should be fine. Good luck Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 9:53 AM

hey guys I get red too when I excercise. But my dad has this and I guess it runs in the family. This could be rosacea that can be eased with a chamomile cream or something like that. Talk to a skin-care expert or a lady at the Macy's counter, she can get you something for it. I have and it really helps. Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 10:14 AM

I have this issue as well. It's actually a sign that your body is working healthily as long as there is no other symptoms - shakiness, nausea, etc. Check the link http://fitsugar.com/248284 Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 6:15 PM

what I do when I turn red faced... It's weird, I know, but I like to keep a large ziploc with me filled with ice cubes. by the time I get to the gym and work out a bit, the ice of course has begun to melt and I have a cool(cold) rag to put around my neck. i still turn a shade of red, but its not as crimson as usual. I run it over my face as much as I can, and the coldness helps for a few minutes.... Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 6:21 PM

purple! hahah. I love this thread! I get beet red, too, especially if i've been biking or running outside, then stop. Without the wind in my face (yes, I do a cooldown walk, but there is no wind in my face) I turn red. The worst part, for me, is that in the summer I tan (I have olive complexion). Something about that summer skin tone is that red plus olive = purple! It's even more embarrassing than in the winter, when it's plain red. (Don't worry, I keep a conversational pace when I'm running. If anything I could push myself harder, but, why? I love chatting and running.) Thursday, July 12, 2007, 2:06 PM

sighs In my case, I get red-face really easily too. Or rather, even if i'm just sitting down, typing this comment, my face is still red, flushed. I'm really frustrated about this. 'cos when i go out for lunch, it's like my face automatically switch on to "red mode", specifically at lunch time O_o I don't know why. It gets embarrassing also. People were like, "hey are you alright??" etc. Because of this, I always avoid eating hot, soup-based foods, and most of the time, take breads only. T_T Worst still after I exercise, my face just turns tomato, a rotten one perhaps -.- when i say it's like a tomato, it's REALLY REALLY like one. Sometimes my face turns purple too. I don't get it. This problem has caused me many problems and generally, I feel very upset about it. 'cos I feel like no one understands. I don't even dare to laugh too much, 'cos it's really scary when my face just turns uber red all of a sudden. On a side note, I feel perfectly fine when exercising. Let's say for e.g, badminton. I can play 3 hours straight without feeling tired at all, or I get more and more energetic. I think I'm healthy but is there really no way to stop this? Or is it that the blood vessels in my face are simply too powerful? =.= Wednesday, September 05, 2007, 2:02 AM

red faced during exercise... I have always had the same issue. My legs will also get beet red when I work out. Now that I am in my 30s I have been diagnosed with Rosacea. You may want to see your doctor or dermatolgist to rule this out. Rosacea can be more than just a cosmetic issue. It can lead to other problems, including ocular ones that can lead to blindness. There is no cure at this time, but there are several treatment options available to help keep it in check. Good luck! Friday, December 21, 2007, 10:35 AM

I too have the same issue and used to think it was an indication of high blood pressure but mine is actually low and my doc said some people's skin just reacts that way with no adverse affects. Easy for him to say, since I work out in the morning before work, it takes about an hour for the color to return to the right shade so it's hard for me to guage how much makeup to put on. LOL! Friday, December 21, 2007, 11:42 AM

Wow... my friend has the same issue. She was fondly called tomato face Friday, December 21, 2007, 12:08 PM

red faced during exercise . . . Wow! I thought I was the only one who had this problem! When I was younger I had to do a serious aerobics class to get that way. (And had the same instructor experience). Now I'm 50 and it happens much quicker and takes longer to go back to normal. I feel like a freak the way people stare and I think I have scared my share of small children as well. My doctor said it's because my body does not regulate heat well so the blood vessels in my face open up. I have had heart tests and lung x-rays and everything is fine. It was nice to find there are more tomatoes out there! Friday, September 12, 2008, 10:37 PM

Don't call 911 I've had the same problem forever too! Once after vigorous dancing at a family wedding, my Aunt came and asked if I needed to sit down and rest, and if she should call an ambulance. I must have looked crazy, but I was feeling great til then! What's worse for me is I get super red-faced and my lips go pale. It's SUCH a great look. Especially after a run on the treadmill and my hair is plastered to my head. :) Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1:01 AM

red face club I wish you red faces were in my part of the world! At the end of a workout I look a total wreck, sweaty, red and need to hide out for at least half an hour before I can face the world. The other day I completed a 5 k, arrived home to receive an urgent call from work. Ten minutes later I was at work bright red. An hour later I had to do a tv interview. A lot of foundation helped but I still looked flushed! I have always had this problem since I was a child, so don't worry about it being anything serious. Saturday, September 13, 2008, 4:44 PM

Rosacea Rosacea Rosacea Tell the instructor to mind her own business, or warn him or her at the very beginning of class. Sunday, September 14, 2008, 12:41 PM

red faced and splotchy I completely am the same way!! I look like a red faced clown with white ring around my mouth and eyes, but beet red on the rest.. it's embarrassing at the gym or when I go for a run.. because it stays like that for an hour after. I'm in great shape and always wondered if may be it my heart or something. I also get red when I drink, embarrassed or nervous.. i always thought the red from drinking was because i'm asian. Thursday, February 19, 2009, 12:55 AM

I have red face during exercise... its not rosacea. Most of us, our faces are just highly vascularized. If it was rosacea, that's worse, but there is medicine for it. I'm going to soon try the IPL treatments for faces. It really toned down my parents skin. Also, I like Keratase lotions. Thursday, February 19, 2009, 7:14 PM

ditto Im the same as many here very red face after exercise and takes an hour to calm down. Ive had an idea Im going to try fake tan on my face and see if it makes any difference, Ill let you know my results:-) Wednesday, March 04, 2009, 5:28 PM

Speaking from experience, fake tan doesn't really help. It actually makes your red face a really weird color that is worse than the red! I have very fair skin so I used a fake tanner prior to going on vacation last week. After returning from a workout in the hotel gym, my husband actually laughed out loud at the way I looked. When I looked in a mirror I saw exactly what he meant...I looked even worse...the white ring around my mouth was brown but the rest of me was almost plum...he said I looked the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory...not a good look so I'll stick with the red. :) Thursday, March 05, 2009, 9:17 AM

I'm on the same boat! I am so happy to not be alone! I have dark brown hair and pale pale skin. I remember one time in soccer when I was in 3rd grade the coach forced me to stop playing because my face was beat red. I still have this problem and it gets really embrassing, I'll be standing with a group of friends and all of a sudden I'll feel it... all the heat goes to my face and I look like tomato. I will just be hanging out with people and guys will assume I have the hots for them cause of my major blushing. Guy's don't flatter yourselfs I just turn into a tomato sometimes! My dermatologist gave me a anti inflamitory medication yesterday, hopefully this cream will help! She said she wasn't sure why I was getting red though. I am also drink aloe vera juice because it is an anti inflamitory. I haven't red anything about people trying it for their face, but I'll test it out :D Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 1:41 AM

We should all work out together!!! Hahaha! Wow, my face is still red and warm from a workout I did an hour ago! I was a chunky kid so I always figured my face was red in gym class because I was out of shape. By high school I was working out every day in some shape or form. I was even down to 125 lbs of pure muscle at 5' 8" tall! (those were the days, hello 175 lbs) Even when I was tiny and super athletic my face would still become crazy tomato red with only mild to moderate exertion. 10 years later and nothing has changed. I can be in the best of shape or worst of shape and my face has always been red when I work out. I like to have a cool place to go after my workouts where I can have a damp washcloth and a fan. If I don't make a point to chill in a cool place for an hour my face will stay red for a lot longer than that. Ugh, it's so annoying! I think we should all find gyms where we can workout with our tomato faced sisters. That way everyone else will look super pale :) Or maybe I'll open a line of gyms called Tomato Face Fitness and the criteria to be accepted as a member is that you turn super red during a workout... Thursday, April 23, 2009, 2:01 PM

Tomatoe Faced Sisters Whew glad to see so many have the same problem! I'm a personal trainer and owned a women's gym....when I taught my high energy classes I'd get so red and felt like the class must think I couldn't handle my own workout! I'm NOT fairskinned, and have brown hair....I just rejoined a kickbox class today and was thinking the instructor would definitely single me out.....she looked like "oh great, a newbee who is gonna pass out"....I'm obsessed with getting an answer so if I figure it out I'll let you know! So far all I know is when I REALLY have a great workout, over 20 minutes of continuous high energy cardio, it's when it kicks in! I also get migraines really easily, so if any or all of you do too, let me know! Maybe there is a common link! Saturday, April 25, 2009, 12:34 PM

very red face with exercise I've been told that if your face turns particularly red with exercise (especially if you also feel a need to take a break even if you're in good shape) you may have small veins. Apparently, this can run in families Saturday, June 06, 2009, 4:26 PM

Thank goodness there are others! I was so glad to read everyone's postings. I've definitely had my share of hide-out-until-it-subsides experiences: after I run more than a mile, in hot weather, on stage in dance recitals when I was younger . . . And I've had to go on explaining/defending my red face, as if it were my duty to raise awareness for the condition! My half-Swedish mom has this same problem, and since her skin has gotten pretty much permanently red over the years, I asked my dermatologist if what she and I have (in its beginning stages) might be rosacea. He asked if my face burns or tingles when it's red. When I told him that it doesn't tingle, it just feels radiantly hot, he said that it wasn't rosacea, and that I shouldn't worry about it. Easy for him to say--but then, he has some pink splotches on his cheeks, too. So this is what I've figured out: run outside in the very early morning, when no one else is up, or in the evening so that the darkness hides the redness. I try to work in a longer cool-down, something like 10-15 minutes of walking and stretching. It also helps to remember that other people might be mildly curious about my red face, but they're probably not as concerned about it as I am! Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 11:13 AM

Haha Good old google. I just came in from a run all red faced and was like why does no one else seem to look like this when i see them out running? They always look so normal despite being sweaty and then there's me bright red running down the road like a beacon. So i googled it and stumbled upon this post. So nice to see there's so many other people like this. Maybe we should get T-shirts made. "I'm not knackered I'm a Tomato Runner". I do find it so embarassing and slightly off putting running around knowing i'm red; in the winter it's alright i go out in the dark, but now unless i'm up before 4 or out after half 10 its just not dark enough so i have to brave it. Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 8:23 AM

Ruby Red Face Oh thank God i ain't the only one! I have always had that beetroot red face when i did any sports since i was a kid, and in recent years have always trained on the winter evenings, and would drive a half an hour home from the club and i would still look somewhat red by the time i got home. However, yesterday i joined a fitness session in work during lunchtime and nearly died when i saw the colour of my face in broad day light after the class. Thank God it was raining outside so i just put up my hood and ran back to the office where everyone was still at lunch, so i sat beside an open window for about 20 minutes eating my own lunch hoping my face would calm down, then proceeded back to my desk in a dark corner and hoped no one would notice. Of course 2 did and had to make a comment, i was so embarrssed. Not only was that bad enough, i then proceeded to also get a migraine as the afternoon went on, so for the last 7 months of not training i was virtually migraine free, but if this tough exercise class plus red face is going to bring them back i might have to think of aternative ways of keeping fit! Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 7:25 PM

the red affliction Yay!! so glad to see im noit the only one too, but we must be few and far between cause i have never noticed anyone else with a face like mine in the 'real world!!' Im a brunette too, and my skin is not too fair, but im as red as ever after excercise and a chronic blusher. I get a blotchy chest and upper arms when very warm or worked up and people always say 'oh my god, you've got a rash' From reading all these posts it seems to be something that will stay with us forever, so i say we should embrace it! My friiends endearingly call me 'Rosie' which makes me feel a little better, cause at least my red/purpleness is not the elephant in the room. Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 7:18 AM

red is hot!! i just googled this subject after observing my beet-red, post-workout face in the mirror and was so happy to find a community of the red-faced ones! i was feeling so weird because we would be doing all of these fast, sexy dance moves in zumba class and here i am shakin' it with a beet red face -- so attractive hahahhahha. i have had this problem all of my life when doing strenuous aerobic exercise. it is gets especially bright red after i stop. i have light, but not fair, skin and am a brunette, but i HAVE had problems with rosacea...interesting to hear there might be a connection! Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 8:35 PM

Migraines/headaches after exercise Hi You might have got the headache from a tough workout after a break from it, it probably dilated your blood vessels a little too suddenly. When I started doing an aerobics class after several years of very little exercising, I not only went almost purple in the face and melting with sweat, a little later on I got palpitations and felt like I'd completely overdone it! I did check with the doc who took a cardiogram and it was fine so he wasn't worried. I didn't go quite so mad next time and it helped. Saturday, September 26, 2009, 11:28 AM

Traffic Light Face Hi It's such a relief to read so many other people's experiences of fiery face syndrome! I find it is worse at some times than others, and if I get really overheated then my hands and feet can get red too. I think I'm more prone to it if I'm tired and if it's hot weather too, but having taken up taekwondo over a year ago I find that wearing the suit is like being in a sauna, it's all wrapped around you and although it can hide a multitide of lumpiness and flab it also makes you get very hot! I find it most embarrassing when working with a partner or having to perform in front of other people as it's like having a large flashing neon sign on your head saying 'look at me!!!' isn't it!! I'm sure people in my tkd class try not to stare but they can't help it sometimes, I know they're wondering what's wrong with me, although the instructor is very experienced and isn't worried by it. The other night though he did make a lighthearted comment that I 'had a good sweat on' but I'd rather he didn't draw attention to it really. I have been laughing out loud at some of the funny stories and comments here though, thanks for helping us all to see the funny side and be less worried about it! Saturday, September 26, 2009, 11:42 AM

Red face folks! Hahaha...I just checked on-line for the first time on this issue after after getting horribly red yesterday during my presentation. I think it has to do with our delicate skin. I'm not sure whether it isn't good for our health or not but its definitely annoying, especially after sex:). Naturally I hate not only the red skin but even skin patches/dots that happen to many in my family. I think I've found the solution, at least for my children and their future. I'm marrying my black boy friend so we could have a mixed race more beautiful and skin-trouble free kids. In my research, skin cancer and most of allergies have to do with our fair skin which is easily attacked by micro-organisms and the hash environment. All the best red-faced folks! Link Tuesday, October 06, 2009, 6:21 AM

New Services and Offerings From PEERtrainer:

1) How To Achieve Sustainable Weight Loss This is a new 12 week program that helps you solve the mental blockages that are prevent many from sustainable weight loss. The most interesting thing about the program is what participants are saying and you can click on the link to read them.

2) Tip Of The Day Weight Loss Coaching Program-- This is a daily email program that helps to reinforce fundamentals as well as gives you practical tips each day. We are getting GREAT feedback from subscribers.

3) What Are Your Odds Of Losing Weight?-- Take the PEERtrainer Coaching Quiz Now!

4) Tip Of The Day Blog-- We update this each day with responses to specific questions from our coaching subscribers and customer.

5) New Diet and Weight Loss Content-- We have launched a new diet section that organizes the growing amount of content on the site. When you click in the most important areas are highlighted.

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Be Inspired By The Success Of Others Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Tips, Resources For Emotional Eating Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Is Curves A Fit For Me? Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: How To Start Exercising And How To Make It Easy How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge

PEERtrainer Is A Free and Powerful Online System For
Weight Loss Support

Click Here To Learn More and Join!