Wedding Blog
I’ve mentioned a few times that I was a little nervous about being the center of attention at my shower. So I wasn’t surprised in the least to see these pictures after the event…
Exhibit A:
Here comes the splotch.
In its full glory.
I wasn’t too hot, I wasn’t drunk, I didn’t have a hickey, and I wasn’t even allergic to the pearls that were placed around my neck when I walked in (although I was a little confused about that- anyone else told they needed something borrowed on their shower day??).
I was just a little anxious, and that lovely red splotchiness shows up in the same spot every time I am. I just know it’s going to happen on my wedding day too, and I am going to cry if I see it in pictures peeking up over my lacy sweetheart neckline.
Does this happen to anyone else? Please tell me that someone out there has a solution?!
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Share this post: A Hot Mess
Oh god, this happens to me too … and you know what makes it worse? Champagne!
Sorry, I don’t have any tips … but I’ll be looking out for some for me too!
It happens to me too but worse than yours! I’ve heard of a couple remedies but I’m not sure anything works except time (letting it go away). I’m worried about it for the wedding too!
It happens to me too. It can get so bad as to go all the way from my neck down to my belly button and all the way down my arms to my elbows. I’ve never been able to find anything to make it go away, but being tan seems to help hide it a bit.
Oh, I have noticed that getting a tan (even a spray-on one) makes it much less noticable!
I get that splotchy red chest and neck with any strong emotion, embarrassment, excitement, anger, anything! I was thinking airbrushed makeup might mask it, but I really don’t know. I figure I’ll just say oh I’m just so excited and let the photographer doctor the photos.
By the way, I like your borrowed pearls. Very cute, but I’ve never heard of that tradition carrying over to showers.
it happens to a friend of mine, i remember her going all red on the chest and neck when having to talk in front of people at school. but on her wedding day she was so happy and relaxed that it didn’t even slighlty appear!
Don’t know if it will be enough, but try take a deep breath, relax and hopefully nobody will notice! but most of all don’t think about it too much or it will get worse!
Besos!
Also - remember that on your wedding day you wont actually be the centre of attention as much as your bridal shower, where you literally have everyone sitting in a circle around you watching you open presents!
this does not happen to me, but I needed some strong coverage for something similar. Try dermablend. http://www.dermablend.com
You can get it at Dillards and other department stores! HTH
As a former biochemist and now a pro photographer I may be able to provide a bit of info -
The flushing is a normal reaction - like hives, or rosy cheeks, it comes out with excitement, alcohol, nervousness, and a bunch of other emotions - all of which are part of a wedding.
As a photographer, I convince my clients not to worry about that. It can easily be corrected in photoshop (but I don’t correct the proofs). I assure brides that all albums and prints won’t show it at all. In black and white prints it can even be mistaken as shadow detail. And in color prints, depending on the way you are facing and the location of the red, it can easily be minimized.
If you are really concerned you might want to try taking a benadryl (I’m no Medical Doctor).
@e: Ah wow, if nervous flushing is related to alcohol flushing, maybe Pepsid AC will work for that too?
http://www.weddingbee.com/2006/11/10/i-turn-red/
This happens to me too! I just had this exact conversation with my MOH the other day! I’m glad to see I’m not alone, but I too am looking for a solution!
have u try going to an allergist?
lol. this happens to me at work. and i think it’s mainly anxiety. i just have to remember to calm myself down and NOT touch it because otherwise it gets worse. don’t worry, photoshop will take out most it when your photographer edits your pics!
Hehe, I just had to come back and comment on this… the phrase “hot mess” has had me giggling all day. 
And for that, I thank you!
But even as a “hot mess,” you still look lovely!
I have the same problem. I’ve been using Dead Sea face serum (super expensive in stores and most websites but you can get it for a fraction of the price on ebay). It’s not supposed to reduce the redness but someone told me it has decreased her rosecea. I’ll find out whenever I get a shower.
This has JUST started happening to me, and I’m also terrified it’s going to carry over to my wedding day. As I’m walking down the isle, I’ll hear whispers “oh wow, what a red bride she is”… I’m sure you’ll be fine though. Nothing photoshop can’t fix!
mr bee: the mechanism for a flush from alcohol and this are different. pepsid wouldn’t help unfortunately
My fiance gets the red splotches on his upper neck area too! I think it’s usually when he’s the center of attention too…but I don’t have any suggestions on how to solve this…sorry!
I get that as well… but not just on my kneck also my chest… and sometimes arms. I even get that during my dress trials and such. I am so screwed for my wedding day. Hopefully the airbrush make up with give me a little cushion. 
I am sorry you have to go throw this as well - hopefully our nerves will calm on wedding day. :-/
Hee hee hee! that happens to me too! I turn bright red when I know lots of people are looking at me. When I get my makeup done for a special event I always have to say NO BLUSH because I blush naturally (unfortunately all over my face but whatever) when I’m the center of attention!
My finace (who happens to be scottish) likes to refer to this as my “bobbing for french fries” look. I’ve had it ever since high school when I had to give a speech. I’ll get it on my neck, chest, and upper arms. I actually asked my doctor about it and she said it had something to do with the blood flow and where most peoples veins open up to allow the flow of blood ours don’t so you get the splotches on the surface of the skin. I don’t know how correct that is, however she did prescribe me a Antihistamine and she said to test it out but I never did. I’ve heard people talk about beta blockers too. I know it’s very frustrating but you’re not alone!
I second (third? whatever) the Benadryl idea. It takes the edge off a bit.
Another good suggestion on here is to take a deep breath and calm down. When I felt them coming on, I used freak out, and that just made it worse! Remember to try to calm yourself, and you’ll get that ‘bridal glow’ — as opposed to rosy splotchiness!
Glad to know that I’m not the only one, btw… I’ve had this for years, going back to middle school.
ps. they just spoke about dermablend on The View.
also, you can try a different antihistamine such as claritin or zyrtec…they shouldn’t make you as sleepy as benadryl.
Oh gosh, again no suggestions but this happens to me too. I get it really bad, often down my whole chest. So annoying. :/
Like MsLisaR said you might want to try dermablend. I just went into Ulta yesterday to check it out for my tattoo. And they have a Leg and Body cream. The person at Ulta gave me a sample to try it on my tattoo. I haven’t try it yet but I have heard a lot of good things about it.
I know this isn’t that helpful, but: Photoshop. I believe most pro photographers do some skin touch-ups of VIPs when they notice a necessity. You might just let your photographer know that your sensitive to it…
I get the flushed-ness too occasionally, but I think it rarely looks as bad in person as it does when you focus in on it later…
I know it is your wedding day, but you might be less anxious on your wedding day because you have planned that event… walking into a shower planned by someone else would make me more anxious that the event I have planned every detail of.
Also, I’m sure the photos can be retouched
airbrush makeup. trust me - getting photos retouched is a pain!
Ah reading the comments, it sounds like it may be a form of anxiety? There was an amazing article in the New Yorker on unwanted blushing a few years ago:
* http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/sadhelp/nym.htm
The solution is photoshop. Seriously, if you see the blotch in your proofs just have it edited out.
I get the splotches too and it’s the worst!! (wish I had a great solution for you!) But mine show up like spots on a cow, white & red! White wine does seem to make it worse, for me anyway.
So hmm.. are you thinking of airbrush??
I’m just did a derm rotation in med school and read about this becuase I get it too. It’s a form of urticaria (hives). The treatment I read about is to take a hot shower and then take two antihistamines (ie benadryl…the second generation ones like clariton won’t work). The only problem is that benadryl is pretty sedating and you don’t want to fall asleep at your wedding! I’m planning to get airbrushed makeup on my neck and chest as well as face to hopefully mute it.
This happens to me sometimes to and it happened at my shower as well (hate being the center of attention!) I was really worried about it at my wedding last year, but it never happened! You honestly won’t have time to even think about it. You will be so caught up in the moment and the day it so completely different than your shower that I promise you it won’t happen
You could always get a big choker to wear with some drop down pearls/diamonoids that would cover it.
I get the splotches too… they range from my upper chest area and neck and skip my face (thank goodness!) and my ears! If you find a solution, please make a post!
~Ash
HotDam - I think Pat Tarpy used to get those too…
I get this too… you’re def. not the only one. I get it really bad on my chest…
It’s called a salmon patch–resolves in the first few years of life. It’s a vascular anomaly that is TOTALLY benign. Tons of people have it, and it’s usually in the back of the neck/over eyelids/forehead/etc. You notice it when you have vascular dilation for any reason–warm weather or feeling warm from embarrassment, for example. Use coverup (foundation/concealer) helps!
This used to happen to me all the time in college and I was so afraid that it’d happen to me on my wedding day, but it didn’t!!!! I went to several doctors and the thing that worked was a beta blocker (I took Inderol aka Propranolol). I only needed a small dosage (20-30 mg) about 2 hours before walking down the aisle. Tanning also helps hide it.
BE careful, Benadryl makes me really sleepy.
oh LORD do i get it. my favorite is when people point it out to me. “you’re turning red!!!!” its the worst!
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Mrs. Tiramisu, Annapolis, MD/Maine
Age and Occupation: 26, Eye Doctor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Project Manager/Real Estate Management grad student
Engagement Date: May 15, 2007
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: March 4, 2008
Venue: Oceanfront lawn and tent
About Me: I was born and raised in Maine, now living in Annapolis, Maryland and planning a hometown wedding from afar. I’m nothing short of obsessed with wedding planning, and am loving the do-it-yourself madness that has now taken over my life! As for me, I’m a craft-loving, martini-drinking, girly-girl who loves traveling, photography, my schnauzer, and above all, spending time with Mr. Tiramisu.
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