Red face after running!

After I run, my face is usually really red except for this white bit around my mouth. It's embarrassing! Is this a sign that I'm not a good exerciser?

"My face is always red and tingly (like a minor sunburn) after I exercise... Also, I always get horrible headaches immediately after I'm done exercising, which go away once my heart rate lowers. "

kimber, I have the exact same symptoms as you do, and I have low blood pressure too.  Interesting.

Hmmmm....interesting! Almost everyone who responded with the same issue of a flushed, red face has Low BP. I  wonder what (and if...) there are any correlating health issues for people with low bp?

What's is interesting to note is that the medical industry really has not studied any associated side-effects to health for people with low blood pressure. All studies and research have been on high bp.

Do those of you who have low bp also have dizziness with standing from the crouching position...ie: crouch to plant flowers, pat the cat, etc....stand up and get dizzy? Happens to me all the time...really annoying, so I try never to do it if I can avoid it.

This is the biggest reason I don't go to the gym, it's so embarrasing for me because people next to me will run for hours and not sweat a drop, and me, I turn so red, bright bright red and I sweat a lot. I think it might get a little better once I'm in better shape, but I've always been a blusher and I always sweat easy. Trying to get in the habit of excercising outside when I can, I don't think people really stare, but I won't feel like they are.

My face gets super red too --- AND I sweat like a monster :-D No low BP though...

I only feel embarrassed about being soaked in sweat AFTER I leave the gym (now I bring extra clothes to change into when I'm done) and have to go to a store nearby or something ---- Oh, and when I do the bike and I'm done and I have two round sweat marks on my tush HAHA! That's kind of embarrASSing...but I get over it.  :-)

Kimber130:   yes, that does happen to me.  

i was at a book store the other day, and i stooped to look through some books on a ground level shelf.  then i stood up too quickly and felt dizzy - i can't really explain it, but kind of like that 'swirling colors black out'  thing that happens if you've ever fainted.      but it passed after a few seconds.  guess i'm just used to that happening now and again.

Actually, sweating more heavily than the others around you is a sign you are in great health. While their bodies have not learned how to cool themselves during activity, your body has been trained to know what's up and will sweat to cool you down.

My only consolation is the veritable river of sweat running down my bra after I run 4 miles... ;-)

I have low blood pressure but no red face :-( haha.

OMG!  I am so shocked!  I thought I was crazy!!!  But I do this too!  Just like Kimber and tinamkz.... I always turn red and my face feels like it is sunburned when I touch it and I sweat like crazy!!  I don't think I have low bp.... what's the best time of day to take your bp to find out if you have low bp or not?  I think we should figure out if this is the connection with it.  I have gotten the headache before too and sometimes just a weird tingly feeling.  And my hands swell... but not as bad now as before...not sure why that is.... but anyway....I guess I am not crazy after all!  Atleast not because of this!!  ;o)

WOW! I am so happy to hear that all of you have red faces too! I am always glad when I see someone else's face turn red from the heat or exercise or even embarrassment. It reassures me that I am not the only one in the world with a cherry red face. I really sucks because my face is totally normal when I am at rest, but if I exert myself at all when it is hot out, I get REALLY red. It is embarrassing. I am SO TIRED of hearing "Are you alright? Do you need to take a break? You look really hot!" I just tell them yeah I am hot! It is hot out! But I hate the humiliation.
I also blush easily. Its like watching a train wreck, there is nothing I can do to stop it from happening. If someone says something to put me on the spot or make me feel awkward I start to feel that twinge as if my face might be turning a little red; as soon as it crosses my mind, it gets out of control. I turn so red, that I panic and feel like if I don?t get out of the situation I might explode. I have heard there are procedures that can be done to help uncontrollable blushing, I hope it is an option for me someday. This really hinders my professional life because I am so self conscious about this problem.
Thanks everyone!

I too have a red face after running and a headache. I also have low blood pressure.  I don't, however, get red faced when I am embarrassed. My face get's so red after running, I can feel the blood rushing to it :) It really  makes me look like I am struggling. I was hoping it would get better the more I ran, but sounds like it won't.

WOW I just came on to ask about this and it was right at the top...hahahaha FATE! I go extremely red! I've played girls hockey since I was 7 and have always been very active but always had this problem! Bring boyfriends to hockey games/practices has never been totally comfortable :P

PS my mom has the same issue but contrary to most others (myself included), she has HIGH blood pressure!  The plot thickens...lol

I'm really enjoy researching genetics and regional genetics along with family history, so I've been doing some research, and they say that this trait is very common among those of North Western European descent.  That'd be German, Dutch, Swiss and Scandinavian (Scandinavian: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and in some cases Finnish).

I feel for you all.  I'm an Irish dancer, and just happen to be close to 1/4 Danish, about 1/8 German with some Swedish and Norwegian mixed in in small quantities.  It wasn't a big deal before I started dancing, but now that I'm in a sport (or activity if you like), where it's not just about form, but also about the way that you're presenting yourself to audiences and judges, it's a great disadvantage.  I can still do it, I just have to stand up straight and smile all the more.

My face used to get really red.  After going to the doctor, I found out I had high blood pressure.  Could that be a possibility for you?

always red face also I was never concerned, it just worried other people

Another person who gets a red face when running here. Everyone keeps telling me what a terrible sunburn I got, but after an hour or so my face looks normal again. I also get headaches if I run when it is hot outside and when I lean over like to tie my shoelaces, so my head is closer to the ground, it totally kills. If I drink drinks with electrolytes when running, I don't have the headaches as much, so I think it might be a dehydration issue. Also, I have been told that taking Benadryl before running might reduce the redness, but I have never tried it...

After a good run on the treadmill. My face turns red. It usually stays a pretty pinkish color after an hour. I wish I could run in the mornings, so I wont need to put blush on. but i exercise after work.

I was just going to post this just never got around to it so thanks.  Yep my face turns really dark red.  I have really low BP also.  It usually goes away in about 45 mins.  I hate this.  It also gets red when I am pissed and yes I am IRISH!!  but does anyone elses do this when they are outside and doing nothing, but just really hot?  One of my teachers said it is your blood going to the surface of the skin to help it cool faster.  I guess this makes sense.

I think your teacher is right.  I am Irish too (and English, French and German) and turn red when I work out.  I used to get freaked out about it but then I realized it's probably just my pale complexion that makes it so noticeable!