Facial blushing is cute and all—the face gets red when you hear something embarrassing—but anyone who has a problem with blushing knows that they can get red in the face at the drop of a hat. The least bit of physical activity can lead to extreme redness, sweating, and even swelling. It can be humiliating to have people mention over and over again how much facial blushing you have every time you break a sweat. Thankfully there’s a cure for blushing—and it doesn’t involve having to avoid embarrassing situations or exertion.

Facial blushing is normally a result of an embarrassing or uncomfortable situation. Excessive blushing may force people to completely alter their lifestyle if they think they will encounter a situation that leads to blushing. Some people with excessive blushing have a lower tolerance than others. It can lead to profound embarrassment. Every time someone points out the facial blushing—even in good humor—cuts to the bone. Each cure for blushing will work better for some and not for others.

For example, makeup is sometimes used to cover up the facial blushing. However, this is not as good an option for men and over application of makeup for women can lead to skin problems. Another cure for blushing is to attack it at its source: the social anxiety and discomfort that leads to redness in the face. A cure for blushing is cognitive behavior therapy in which people attempt to overcome their social anxiety disorder. This can be done through blushing medication, therapy or a combination of the two.

This type of blushing medication should not be confused with other types of blushing medications, such as Clonidine, Oxprenolol, or herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort. Such cure for blushing may be combined with anti-depressant blushing medication but it is important to determine if there are any contraindications. This cure for blushing is only a temporary solution, as the blushing medication will have to be taken repeatedly. Because of this, blushing medication is not always a first choice as a cure for blushing.

Cognitive therapy is often an incomplete cure for blushing. Those who have a substantial problem with facial blushing will blush regardless of social situation—they will blush heavily even if the situation is not particularly emotionally challenging. Excessive blushing is exacerbated as a situation becomes difficult or nerve-wracking. For those who have exhausted therapy, medication, or who have a particularly bad case of excessive blushing, the most effective cure for blushing is ETS.

ETS is a cure for blushing through surgical procedure and it cuts off facial blushing at its source—not emotionally but physically. It is most recommended when the facial blushing is combined with other types of excessive sweating, such as palm sweating or underarm sweating. For many, this is the only cure for blushing that actually works. ETS-C is a similar procedure for excessive blushing, but it is reversible, in case blushing reoccurs.