What causes sweating and facial flushing during exercise?

Generally, facial flushing and sweating during exercise may be caused by factors such as sympathetic nervous system activation, thermoregulatory demands, cholinergic urticaria, hypertension, or hyperthyroidism. It is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific explanations are as follows:

1. Sympathetic Nervous System Activation: During exercise, stimulation activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing facial blood vessels to dilate and sweat glands to secrete, resulting in facial flushing and sweating. This is a normal physiological response. Gradually stop exercising, rest in a cool place, and drink room-temperature water to rehydrate; symptoms will gradually subside.

2. Thermoregulatory Demands: Exercise generates significant heat, and the body dissipates heat by dilating skin blood vessels and increasing sweat production, leading to facial flushing and sweating. Choose breathable, moisture-wicking athletic clothing, replenish fluids in small amounts frequently during exercise (avoiding excessive single intakes), and promptly wipe off sweat and change into dry clothes after exercise.

3. Cholinergic Urticaria: Increased body temperature from exercise stimulates the release of histamine in the skin, triggering an allergic reaction characterized by facial flushing, sweating, and itching. Avoid intense physical activity and high-temperature environments. Follow medical advice to take medications such as cetirizine hydrochloride tablets, ebastine tablets, or fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets.

4. Hypertension: Blood pressure fluctuates and rises during exercise, increasing pressure on facial blood vessels and causing them to expand, resulting in facial flushing and sweating, possibly accompanied by dizziness. Monitor blood pressure regularly, take prescribed medications such as nifedipine controlled-release tablets, valsartan capsules, or irbesartan tablets, and consult your doctor before exercising to determine an appropriate exercise intensity.

5. Hyperthyroidism: Excess thyroid hormone leads to increased metabolism. After exercise, the sympathetic nervous system becomes more activated, causing pronounced facial flushing and sweating, often accompanied by palpitations and hand tremors. Take medications such as methimazole tablets, propylthiouracil tablets, or propranolol tablets as directed by your doctor to reduce hormone levels.

Warm up properly before exercising and choose suitable activities like jogging or yoga based on individual health conditions, avoiding sudden high-intensity workouts. Maintain regular sleep patterns and a light diet, minimizing intake of spicy and stimulating foods, which helps support stable bodily function.