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Re-activateI'm 85 years old and my face has recently become flushed all the time. What could cause that? —F.G.W., Narragansett, R.I.
There are a few well-known causes of constant facial flushing: certain daily drugs; a skin condition called rosacea; a handful of rare disorders, including blood, thyroid, and kidney cancers; and a slow-growing tumor called a carcinoid. The most likely drug culprits are cholesterol-cutting niacin and the anti-angina drugs isosorbide (Isordil, Sorbitrate) and nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat). Other drugs taken occasionally or briefly may cause temporary flushing; they include the antibiotic rifampin (Rifadin), the immunosuppressant cyclosporine (Sandimmune), the erectile drug sildenafil (Viagra), and the steroid triamcinolone (Aristocort). Other causes of temporary flushing include alcohol, strong emotions, spicy or bitter foods, the food additives MSG and sodium nitrite, and menopause.
Read more on the side effects of niacin and isosorbide , and find out if you can prevent niacin rash .
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