- Melinda Ozel
- June 11, 2025
This post dives into the concept of facial blanching, exploring its causes within and beyond nonverbal communication descriptions.
Beyond Blushing, Intro to Blanching
Our faces are a wealth of information. From expressive contortions to subtle shifts in color, we transmit signals reflecting passing physiological states. Changes in facial blood flow, tension, sweat, and more can mirror real-time changes inside the body.Â
While many of us are familiar with the facial reddening that comes with blushing, blanching, or facial whitening, is often left under-discussed.
What IS Blanching? Definition & Word Origins
Before getting into the weeds of facial blanching, let’s first cover blanching in a general sense.
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of blanch is “to make white or whiter by removing color.” Strangely, in the culinary world, blanching refers to a process used to preserve color, flavor, and texture in food – usually by briefly boiling and then cooling fruits or vegetables.
Etymologically, “blanch” comes from Old French, blancir, meaning “to whiten, wash.” Such washing could refer to whitewashing a building or removing the hull of vegetables, legumes, seeds, or fruits.
In essence, blanching typically means “to whiten” or “to lose color” – unless you’re talking about food, in which case blanching refers to the preservation of color (lol) and other food properties.
Localized Blanching
Blanching refers to the temporary whitening or paling of the skin due to restricted blood flow. In medical contexts, doctors may induce localized blanching (or, blanching confined to a small area) to assess circulation, capillary refill time, or diagnose vascular abnormalities.
You can trigger localized blanching on yourself by pressing against your skin with your fingertips or an object. This applied pressure restricts blood flow to the pressed area. Once you remove your fingertips (or object), you will see pale spots where the pressure was applied. Unless you suffer from skin damage or a health condition affecting your circulation, these spots typically fade within seconds.
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Generalized Blanching
In more serious cases, generalized blanching (or, blanching that affects a broader section of the skin or body) can be triggered by various states including emotional stress, physical strain, severe trauma or infection, Raynaud’s disease (typically confined to the fingers), significant blood loss, clinical dehydration, burns, frostbite, botched cosmetic procedures, and so on.
And Finally, Facial Blanching
Facial blanching occurs when the face, either in whole (generalized) or in part (localized), turns pale or white. Facial blanching can be thought of as the antithesis of facial blushing (also called erubescence), which is associated with the reddening of skin due to increased blood flow.
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The Science Behind Facial Blanching
Experts in the behavior sphere, such as former FBI agent Joe Navarro and renowned zoologist Desmond Morris, discuss the importance of [generalized] facial blanching as an indicator of heightened emotional states and, in some cases, as a potential predictor of attack.
In What Every Body is Saying, Navarro writes that [generalized] blanching is particularly noticeable during what he describes as “sustained limbic reactions” – i.e. prolonged stress responses triggered by events like shock, sudden guilt, or overwhelming emotional strain. The limbic system governs our emotional responses. When activated, it triggers this pallor as part of the body’s fight-or-flight response to perceived threats.
Similarly, in The Naked Ape, Desmond Morris discusses how our exposed skin and lack of body hair (compared to other mammals) “gives us the chance to send powerful flushing and paling signals. We can go ‘white with rage,’ ‘red with anger,’ or pale with fear.'”
Morris emphasizes that [generalized] blanching, though often associated with fear, is extremely important to recognize in contexts of aggression:
It is the white color we have to watch for here: this spells activity. If it is combined with other actions that signal attack, then it is a vital danger signal. If it is combined with other actions that signal fear, then it is a panic signal. If is caused, you will recall, by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the 'go' system, and it is not to be treated lightly. The reddening on the other hand, is less worrying: it is caused by the frantic counter-balancing attempts of the parasympathetic system, and indicates that the 'go' system is already being undermined. The angry, red-faced opponent who faces you is far less likely to attack than the white-faced, tight-lipped one. Red-face's conflict is such that he is all bottled up and inhibited, but white-face is still ready for action. Neither can be trifled with, but white-face is much more likely to spring to the attack unless he is immediately appeased or counter-threatened even more strongly.
Beyond the Limbic Response
Facial blanching is not limited to limbic reactions and health conditions. Strong facial movements can also trigger blanching – though usually in a localized manner.
In the clip below, watch as the lips transition from a semi-relaxed, pucker-like state to a compressed state. This is a specific type of compression I refer to as “vertical lip tightener” or “lip cincher” (see “FACS Cheat Sheet” for more).Â
Just as pressing a fingertip against the skin can cause temporary blanching, intense facial expressions that crunch, press, or contort certain areas of the face can also restrict blood flow. Muscle-driven movements can interact with facial fat and skin to physically block circulation, leading to visible blanching in specific regions.
Final Words On Blanching
Though facial blanching is often passively mentioned with little to no elaboration, its patterns, causes, and nuances deserve closer attention. Catching these critical color changes can reveal stress, health issues, aggressive intent, or muscular strain. These visual details are commonly missed but easily demystified once you know what to look for.Â
Whether you’re analyzing behavior, animating faces, or simply trying to understand how physiology interacts with expression, recognizing both generalized and localized blanching gives you a more precise lens when exploring facial tension and color shifts.
Fun Further Reading
How to Cite This Page
Ozel, M. (2025, June 11). Blanching, Facial Expressions, and Blood Flow. Face the FACS. https://www.facethefacs.com/blanching-facial-expressions-blood-flow
Google Scholar Profile → Melinda Ozel