Hot flashes involve sudden flushes of warmth to your face and upper body. Your face, neck, and chest can become hot and you may start to sweat. On light skin tones, the skin in these areas may look red, while dark skin tones may look purple, brown, or darker than usual.
Hot flashes are sudden, intense feelings of heat that are brought on by factors other than hot weather. Dressing in easily removable layers and carrying a fan or cold drink may help manage the symptoms of a hot flash.
Hot flashes often happen during menopause, but other medical conditions can cause them, too. When hot flashes wake you up from sleep, they’re called night sweats.
In general, during a hot flash, a feeling of warmth suddenly floods your face and upper body. Your face and neck may turn red or discolored, like your skin is flushed or you’re blushing.
Other symptoms of a hot flash can include:
- a fast or uneven heartbeat
- heavy sweating
- dizziness
- shaking
- a feeling like blood is rushing through your body
- headaches
After the hot flash passes and the sweat evaporates from your body, you might feel chilled and may start to shiver.
A hot flash that occurs when you’re sleeping is called a night sweat, even if you don’t sleep during the night. It may wake you up from a sound sleep.
Every person experiences hot flashes differently. Not everyone experiences severe hot flashes, and some people don’t experience them at all.
If you’re not sure that what you’re experiencing is a hot flash, you may want to talk with a doctor about your symptoms.
Heard around Healthline
“Hot flashes are like a glowing ember in your chest that explodes into a raging fire through the top of your head. The kind of hot that makes you roll down the car windows in the dead of winter. The kind of hot that makes you take off multiple layers down to your T-shirt on the subway during rush hour, sincerely not caring who’s looking or what they think.”
– Heather, senior director of content marketing
This is one person’s experience. Your symptoms may be very different.
According to the National Institute on Aging, hot flashes related to menopause typically last from
The frequency and intensity may be different from person to person. For some people, they may be mild and infrequent, only occurring once a week or less often. For others, they may be intense and could happen a few times per day.
Research is conflicting around how long someone may experience hot flashes during menopause. A 2018 research review suggests that vasomotor symptoms, which include hot flashes and night sweats, may last anywhere from 7 to 10 years.
It’s important to remember that these numbers are estimates, and your experience may be very different.
The National Health Service (NHS) suggests some tips for relieving hot flashes:
- wear light clothing layers
- take a cool shower
- use a fan or drink something cool
- keep your bedroom cool when you sleep
It may also help to keep a record of your symptoms, when they occur, and what you are doing when you notice them. This may help you identify and avoid potential triggers, such as caffeine or alcohol.
If your symptoms are severe or persistent and home remedies haven’t brought relief, consider talking with a doctor. This is where a symptom journal may come in handy — your doctor may be able to determine the best treatments based on your specific situation.
They may recommend a treatment plan consisting of medications, lifestyle changes, or both.
Hot flashes can be intense and disruptive. They may be accompanied by skin flushing, sweating, and dizziness.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause. If home remedies like cool showers or drinks aren’t relieving your symptoms, talk with a doctor about potential treatments like medications.
If your hot flashes seem to be related to something other than menopause, you should also contact a doctor to get checked out.
