The fear of blushing is termed “erythrophobia”, which can also connote fear of the color red. The word is derived from the Greek “erythros” meaning red and “phobos” meaning fear.

Studies have shown that blushers who were told that they blushed in a specific scenario blushed about having blushed. In other words, just being informed that they blushed was sufficient to make them turn red or become anxious that they would turn red. In general, anxiety results from worry about being the focus of attention and concern about being judged negatively.

People who become socially phobic (intensely fearful) about blushing find the blushing experience terribly stressful and anxiety provoking. Out of this anxiety, they avoid social situations and are willing to accept harsh negative consequences of that avoidance.

The anxiety created by the fear of blushing thus in turn feeds another social anxiety, avoidance-dependence syndrome.