303255 Thu Jun 08 18:14:25 -0700 2006 104 36 Spirits 0 1704423 Twice now, I've had a bad reaction to alcohol and I'm not sure what component caused it. The first time, I drank just a few sips of champagne (don't remember the label) and about 10 minutes later, I felt my face get very hot, and I turned red as a beet. I mean, flaming red, all over my face. It took about 1/2 hour to cool down. The second time, I drank a few sips of something called "Toxic Waste" (at a theme party). The drink was made up of Midori, vodka and Mountain Dew, that's all. Same thing happened--flaming heat on my face, beet red, cooling down after 1/2 hour. Luckily, both times I was able to slip away without being noticed, as I would have been mortified to stand around looking like a lobster. So does anyone have an idea what could have caused this kind of reaction? I've drunk more than one brand of champagne without any problem; ditto, vodka. Never had Midori though. Any thoughts are much appreciated! Thu Jun 08 18:14:25 -0700 2006 0 reallyrednails 1 1704427 I don't know if it's technically an allergy or some other sort of hypersensitivity, but I do know someone who developed the same syndrome you seem to be experiencing. I don't know exactly how old she was when it happened, but she was well into adulthood and had been a regular (not heavy, just regular) drinker before that with no ill effects. Unfortunately, it seems to be permanent, at least in her case. I don't know if that's typical, but the bottom line is that it's not some sort of unheard-of bizarreness and probably has nothing to do with the Midori itself (although the stuff is so sickly sweet, it might cause a reflex gag reaction by itself.;) ) Thu Jun 08 19:36:07 -0700 2006 1704423 0 MikeG 2 1704429 And actually, now that I think of it, I once knew yet another person who had the same problem, also developed well into adulthood (that poor guy had a lovingly amassed, fairly well-stocked wine cellar to dispose of after it came upon him.) Thu Jun 08 20:00:10 -0700 2006 1704427 0 MikeG 1 1704430 i have the same problem and i've always chalked it up to the fact that i'm asian. genetically, asians don't process alcohol that well and often have allergic reactions even from just drinking a little bit. usually i'll have half a glass of wine and start to turn red (the asian glow!), but not be anywhere close to being drunk or buzzed. it's been getting worse as i've gotten older, so maybe you've always had a little bit of an alcohol allergy, but now the symptoms are showing up more as the years go by? just a theory... there are certain kinds of alcohol that make me more red like crappy wine (red or white), yeasty champagnes/sparkling wines (good or crappy), heineken (specifically, micro-brews (aka "hippy beer"), and cheap/well liquor. things that don't affect me as bad are top-shelf liquors and bud light (go figure). Thu Jun 08 20:33:38 -0700 2006 1704423 0 rebs 2 3552104 Half of Asians, but not only Asians, have a genetic variation of the enzyme (dehydrogenase) used to process alcohol that causes them to metabolize alcohol too quickly into acetaldehyde -- which causes the redness and flushing as it builds up in the body. But there's a step two that makes the acetaldehyde (and the redness and flushing) hang around longer. The variant enzyme also causes the too-slow metabolism of acetaldehyde into the benign acetic acid. So alcohol metabolism by folks with that variant enzyme is both too fast -- in its conversion of alcohol to acetaldehyde -- and too slow -- in its conversion of acetaldehyde into acetic acid. I've heard from a number of Asian wine-drinking friends that after they drank a very small amount of alcohol (a few sips of wine or beer) regularly, their bodies somehow learned to metabolize alcohol normally, with no redness or flushing. Of course, this is anecdotal info and not scientifically valid. But it's curious. An allergy to alcohol is very uncommon. The basic thing to remember is that an allergy is a reaction to a protein, and you don't find much of that in alcohol. Most likely, if there is an allergy, it's to a substance IN the beer or wine to which one may be allergic: wheat, corn, yeast, hops, barley, and the egg or seafood proteins that are used to "fine" [filter] and clarify wine. Sulfites are not the culprit. Lots of new research says sulfites are not the cause of any wine or beer reaction, unless you already suffer from asthma or have the rare sulfite oxidase deficiency. Lots more info on CH if you do a search. Histamines have been ruled out as well in recent medical studies. Tyramines, found in wine and other beverages containing alcohol, can cause a hypertensive reaction that includes headaches, hyperventilation and fast heartbeat. Especially if the tyramine-containing beverage is consumed with tyramine-laden foods, like cheese, mushrooms, salami, cured meats, and so on. Wed Apr 02 02:51:08 -0700 2008 1704430 18222 maria lorraine 3 4784201 You are spot on that the "flushed face and drunk quick" reaction after consuming very little alcohol is as a result of people having a variant in the gene that codes for the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. Thu Jun 18 08:34:24 -0700 2009 3552104 10169 StriperGuy 4 5111549 I am of European desent, and drink regularly but very moderately. A drink or two most days. I get a blotchy red face, back, neck and arms from a few sips of alcohol, beer or vodka drinks usually, but only once or twice a year. Less than one percent of the times I have a drink and my immunity defenitly isn't improving with regular drinking. Certain types of alcohol seem to do it, but stress, food lack of rest seem to be part of it. There is more than just 'Asian flush' genetics and a pre determined allergy at play for some but not all people. I like the idea that a certain protein is to blame because of my very irregular symptoms and the severity of the symptoms after only a few sips. I have no other food allergies and usually stop drinking when it happens. I wish I knew what I, and obviously others, have. Sat Oct 17 21:56:47 -0700 2009 4784201 1117187 nichol0 1 1704431 this happened to me in college an the doctor told me that certain wines and shell fish combine to cause this reaction. several years later it occured again and the doctor told me it might be a reaction to sulfites in the wine. Thu Jun 08 20:40:27 -0700 2006 1704423 0 jfood 2 2837974 So interesting, this has happened to me as well! One night after some champagne and an appetizer with Caviar or roe of some sort I ended up spending a "wonderful" evening at Mt. Sinai. My alergist did numerous blood tests and we still have not figured out what it was I am allergic to. Then a couple years later, after white wine and swordfish, the same thing happened. I don't get uniformly red though, I do break out in hives and feel like I can't breath and my throat is closong! This only happens on occasion and my Dr. didn't mention the combo could cause this. Though I suspected as much. Sun Aug 12 10:11:00 -0700 2007 1704431 115445 SweetPea914 1 1704432 I've experienced this also. It started when I was in my early 30s, a few years ago. It comes and goes -- sometimes it will happen every time I drink, other times periodically, and sometimes never. Perhaps it is more likely to happen when I'm stressed, or drink particular types of alcohol, or in combination with something else. I don't know. I haven't noticed anything. I've talked to my dermatologist about it because I thought it was a reaction to a medication I was taking. He said it wasn't related. He may have said it was related to rosasea-I don't recall. In any case, he said it is harmless (other than the mild discomfort it causes). Naturally, don't take our advice -- if you are at all concerned, talk to a dermotologist. Thu Jun 08 21:00:26 -0700 2006 1704423 0 Name withheld 1 1704433 We have a good friend who can not drink red wine without getting "red" herself. No problem whatsoever with white wine or hard alcohol. I've been told it could be one's "histameans (phonetic spelling)" that cause this problem since there are some in red wines. Thu Jun 08 21:02:07 -0700 2006 1704423 0 Monty 2 2691418 many people are allergic to wines and get the flushing, with a range of other symptoms-- the more you drink the worse it will be also may react to some types of wines but not seriously to others. some folks can't drink fermented beverages-- beers, wines because of allergies, but they are fine with distilled liquors (hard liquor). the wine allergies can develop later in life due to genetics or lifestyle, age or other factors. i'd stop drinking wines and stick to 1 or 2 mixed drinks (meaning only one type of liquor used, with one mixer, and ice) and avoid brightly colored party wapatoowee that you have no idea what it contains. the flushing is one of the mildest symptoms of the allergy and it gets more unpleasant. . . Mon Jun 25 09:31:30 -0700 2007 1704433 46030 soupkitten 1 1704436 It used to happen to my wife all the time. Red wine, Champagne, A crazy frozen drink etc. It would randomly happen and it would soon go away.. It hasn't happened since she gave birth almost 3 yrs ago..Go figure. Thu Jun 08 22:43:37 -0700 2006 1704423 0 King of Northern Blvd. 2 2154844 Funny you mention child birth as a starting or stopping point - my wife could drink fine up until the birth of our first child 14 years ago . Since then , one or 2 sips and its red face and tingly sensations. Fri Jan 05 02:00:52 -0800 2007 1704436 64214 Birddog415 3 2838946 Again, it is interesting that you say that. I had an allergic reaction twice to alcohol...see above. However, when I was pregnant and therefore not drinking and was extremely careful about what fish I was eating I had no reactions. The swordfish incident happened about 2 months post partum, which was also one of the first nights I had swordfish and probably more than my fair share of wine. Also incidentaly, my mom says she is allergic to alcohol, and we were discussing this during dinner. A dinner of crab cakes and white wine! However tonight I seem fine. Sun Aug 12 18:31:20 -0700 2007 2154844 115445 SweetPea914 1 1704437 I would look into the roseaca issue. Fairly common among people of German, Dutch, Irish, and some other nationalities. Basically, people with what is refered to as "peaches and cream complexions". If that doesn't apply, read no more. It is rarely addressed, cause people just think it is blushing, which it is. Uncontolled blushing. It does need to be treated, at least to the extent it can be. It can progress in some cases to where blood vessels rupture in your face, causing permanent scaring. There are many triggers. Most commonly stress, some alcohols, and some foods. It is also the main cause of what is refered to as "adult acne". If any of this fits, see a dermatologist. Fri Jun 09 00:16:52 -0700 2006 1704423 0 Bobfrmia 2 1704439 I have rosacea and get redder and redder as I drink. Spicy foods, alcohol, stress, and warm temperatures will cause the "blushing". You should be checked out by a doctor. It can do major damage to your skin and inside your nose. It is treatable with a daily cream. I still eat and drink whatever I want, and I still get red as a beet. Fri Jun 09 02:07:28 -0700 2006 1704437 0 Janet 1 1704454 Thanks for all the answers. Funny thing is, this happened so randomly, only twice, and 2 different drinks so I couldn't figure out the connection. Of course it had to happen while dealing with clients! I've had both champagne and other alcohol since and no reaction. Thanks again. Fri Jun 09 11:44:56 -0700 2006 1704423 0 reallyrednails 2 2416288 I have the same problem as you. Also started in my 30's. Now I don't drink at all. I few sips and I'm red as a beet, face and neck. Neck swells and feet also swell and begin to itch horribly. I attest to being allergic to the tannins. This is from wine and champagne not necessarily from grain alcohols. I do have terrible allergiy to some flowers and plants too. Can't drink some chinese herbal teas for the same reason. The Rosacea can also an issue. :( KQ Fri Mar 23 21:27:51 -0700 2007 1704454 11934 Kitchen Queen 1 1704459 Happens to me on occassion also - especially if I drink my first drink/beer too fast but sometimes there is no reason. Its been happening to me on and off since I was in my early 20's. Sometimes it can be severe enough that I have trouble breathing. Taking a break and waiting until it subsides is the only thing that will make it go away. I thought this article was pretty informative (see link below): Link: http://www.allergy.org.au/aer/infobulletins/pdf/Alcohol_Allergy.pdf#search='asian%20alcohol%20allergy' Fri Jun 09 12:27:59 -0700 2006 1704423 0 rl 1 1704469 A friend of mine has the same problem when drinking alcohol. It is often referred to as "Asian blush or flush" (although non-Asians have the same reaction). The solution she swears by is to take Pepcid or another H2 blocker before drinking. Check out the link below for more info. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Flush_Disease Fri Jun 09 16:02:49 -0700 2006 1704423 0 WorkinginSF 2 1814525 WARNING! I don't have any comment on the effectiveness of preventing blushing with this (no experience), but BE CAREFUL about which H2 blocker you choose. Pepcid would be fine, but Tagamet (cimetidine) and Zantac (ranitidine) are known to inhibit gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme in your stomach that breaks down some of the alcohol you consume), meaning you could get a little more PUNCH out of the drinks than you expect. There's plenty of debate about the extent of the effect, but just be aware of it if you give this a try. Thu Aug 17 15:37:16 -0700 2006 1704469 12179 gromit 2 2650369 Are you sure this works taking Pepcid becasue this happens to my face to and it is real annoying my whole chest even gets red the only thing that helps me not get red is to take painkillers when I drink or something else to not make my face red so please let me no if this really works because I would like to stop doing that. Mon Jun 11 16:16:49 -0700 2007 1704469 104430 4th n 26 3 2650441 I'd say try it. It can't really hurt. A lot of alcohol has histamines, and an antihistimine would work if that is what is causing your reaction. Mon Jun 11 16:40:10 -0700 2007 2650369 76025 mojoeater 1 1704513 Same exact thing happens to me...with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Over the years, I've linked it (I think) to hormones. Doesn't have anything to do with what alcohol is it I'm drinking. If you figure it out...let me know!!! :) Sun Jun 11 16:53:11 -0700 2006 1704423 0 shopgirl 2 3118744 I had my first "Red-Face" attack in months last night. My face was on fire, and the bright red blotches that I usually get on my chest and neck spread to my arms and legs, I also had shortness of breath. Like you, there is no rhyme or reason. I've experienced it with wine, good vodka, good beer, margaritas- and I've had dozens of times I've drank those things with no reaction at all. Like many others, it started in my 30's and it sounds a lot like the Asian drinking thing- but I'm not Asian. Like you, I have noticed I am more succeptible to it at certains times of the month. Hormones can have a powerful affect in our bodies. Mon Nov 12 16:12:31 -0800 2007 1704513 142463 Wosey67 1 1704866 Are you within 10 years of menopause? I know it's a very personal question but a pertinent one, just the same. It first happened to me when I was about 35, and continued on and off for about 10 years. I never knew when it would hit so I had to be careful. Luckily, it is now a thing of the past!! Mon Jun 19 13:01:40 -0700 2006 1704423 0 pilotgirl210 1 1812524 Wow. This happens to me, occasionally, and exactly as described. It first started in my mid-30s (I'm not female, btw) about ten years ago -- and I've never really been able to associate it clearly with any factor other than alcohol. It seems to happen more often on an empty stomach, and sometimes I've thought nuts or other bar food were associated with it. But really, it is random, and the drinks and/or food that set it off will not do so on other occasions. My doctor said it was a clear allergic reaction, but thought it peculiar that the reaction wasn't consistent each time. Looking at the info above, roseaca doesn't quite fit the symptoms, though the "Asian flush" is quite close. I'm also not Asian, but don't suppose that really matters. Wed Aug 16 19:36:15 -0700 2006 1704423 21700 Capybara 1 1812774 this happens to a friend of mine. she takes benadryl prior to drinking and she doesn't change color anymore. Wed Aug 16 20:44:03 -0700 2006 1704423 14569 da_seuss 2 1812810 My doctor suggested carrying benadryl so that if the reaction got severe enough to begin to close the windpipe I could take it -- but the combination of alcohol and benadryl can be pretty potent and should be watched. Wed Aug 16 20:52:41 -0700 2006 1812774 21700 Capybara 1 1818163 My mother gets the same reaction. She only drinks wine, champagne, or an occasional margarita. Now that you mention it, I don't think that the margaritas give her this reaction. The level of redness and hot skin can vary. She's only an occasional drinker so she's not planning on stopping anytime soon. Your case may be more severe...not sure. Fri Aug 18 21:13:02 -0700 2006 1704423 13223 amoncada 1 1893781 I am 25 and I experience the following symptoms when I drink any sort of alcoholic beverage. Usually happens after about the 4th or 5th drink, and is more likely to happen even sooner on the 2nd night of drinking: Flushing in my cheeks and forehead, shortness of breath, odd "stomachy" taste in my mouth that comes up from my stomach. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms together? First I get the shortness of breath, then the taste, then the flushing. It has put an end to many good nights! I am going to try the Pepcid trick, and see if it resovles the problem this weekend. Fri Sep 22 00:23:33 -0700 2006 1704423 42324 psuth 2 2837482 Hi,i get the exact same symptons as you,i also have a touch of asthma i have to take my inhaler when i get shortness of breath,i usually get these symptoms when i drink spirits and sometimes beer did you find any cures yet. Sun Aug 12 03:30:27 -0700 2007 1893781 118621 seanbooboo 1 2154837 My wife has the same exact reactions to alcohol as you do . She takes just one or two sips and she turns beet red and has a tingly or hot sensation in a sort of mask pattern across her face. After a 1/2 hour or so it slowly goes away. It started about the time she had our first child -14 yrs ago. Before that she had no problems . Not that it would tie in with this problem but she also has allergic reactions to honeydew melon,her lips swell up and feel numb or tingly. We've been searching for an answer for a long time. Fri Jan 05 01:57:33 -0800 2007 1704423 64214 Birddog415 1 2161208 In general when I'm in Europe or in China alcohol doesn't bother me as much as in the USA, where as long as i can remembered, alcohol consumption always made me turn red from the face down to my neck, and sometimes my breathing becomes a bit heavy. There seems to be no logic, except that emotional/stress level always affects adversely. Other than that, most recent couple of years I didn't drink much while in the US. I trained and worked out a lot. Then at a wedding in the US i had some red wine. Not much reaction. At the same wedding, later in the evening, I had two shots of tequilla back to back, still nothing. I mean this was the quick-empyting, bottoms up kind of shots. Nothing, except slight warmth in the stomach. A month after that, I was in China, eating lamb hot pot with a group of people. We drank the Chinese Tsing Dao (which tasted better in China) steadily, along with the Russian liquor made of red hot pepper! I must have had 4 or 5 shots of that on top of the beer...A slight warmth and rosy color to my cheeks only, no dizziness at all. Is it really possible that the sulfite is the culprit? Does alcohol overseas not contain sulfite? Or is it mindfulness when drinking, i.e. not rushing the drink, timing it out with food...etc. that's making the difference? Or a combination of both? Sun Jan 07 03:00:42 -0800 2007 1704423 10422 HLing 1 2162131 I don't think sulphites is the answer - she only slightly sips a Budweiser and it starts . I told her about the Pepcid AC taken one hour before drinking working for others on here . We'll see . We're only occasional social drinkers so its not likely we'll be testing it out any time soon. Sun Jan 07 16:33:14 -0800 2007 1704423 64214 Birddog415 1 2166605 Hi Again, It has been about 2 months since my last post, and the Pepcid AC trick seems to work fairly well. I usually take 10 to 20 mg an hour before drinking, and about a half hour after eating dinner. It works very well if I have not had a drink for a few days..but works less effectively if I drank the night before. On new years eve I got the symptoms toward the end of the night, and believe that it was because I was eating and drinking and the same time. The reaction seems to stay away as long as I do not eat while I drink. From what I hear, our bodies can become immune to the Pepcid AC, and therefore we will have to take more and more of it..which is not good. Even when I take 2 during an evening, my stomach feels off the next day. Not sure what the long term solution is to this, but I have heard that the vitamine NAC can help to prevent the build up of the enzyme Acetaldehyde that causes the symptoms, along with carrot juice. It is worth a try. Mon Jan 08 21:47:35 -0800 2007 1704423 42324 psuth 2 2255661 I am so happy I found this board! I have been experiencing the red "mask" reaction to alcohol the last three times I've had a drink. I've never experienced the reaction before. I am in my mid 40's. I've reacted from margaritas, white wine and Joe's Hard Lemonade. I am on Zyrtek for a different allergy around my eyes (unknown, as of yet, but probably to a cosmetic or other substance) and thought it was from the alcohol and Zyrtek interaction and am disappointed it may be something I may go through forever. I react after less than 1/4 glass of a drink. I start to feel very hot around my eyes, like I am sunburned, then I feel tingling and throbbing around my eyes. Luckily, because of my other allergy, I carry Benadryl with me all the time. I usually pop the Benadryl and the symptoms go away within a half an hour, but I've always completely stopped drinking any more of my drink once the reaction starts and I take the Benadryl. I am anxious to try the Pepcid hint and may start taking a Benadryl before I drink, or I may just have to quit having a drink--which is maybe one or twice every two weeks. Thanks for all your hints! Fri Feb 02 22:46:12 -0800 2007 2166605 71370 kfa919 2 2416269 Hey It's funny you should say that because I can drink several glasses of wine or beer (doesn't matter what colour wine) and not go red at all (sometimes a little flushed) but if I eat - say at a dinner party - it is then I go blotchy and hot faced, this is then followed by a very red face. I can actually feel it coming on? Whereas, if I only eat a few nibbles, all is ok. I DO think it is related to eating dairy products whilst drinking alcohol, as I have been noticing it more if I eat say a pizza or a pudding? It is sooo frustrating. Just last week I ate a thai (spicy) and my nose even blocked up? Fri Mar 23 21:20:19 -0700 2007 2166605 85437 anm29 1 2285067 Okay, I haven't drank since my three incidents, but I have a bad cold and last night took Nyquil, and quess what? Yup, Nyquil has alcohol in it and I got the lovely red mask from that little amount! It wasn't as bad as the other episodes, but very noticeable. I take Zyrtec at night, so that zapped it. I haven't tried Pepcid yet, but will soon........ Mon Feb 12 12:04:32 -0800 2007 1704423 71370 kfa919 1 2285126 This happens to me randomly and infrequently. The first time it was red wine, but white wine and mixed drinks do the same thing to me on occasion. Mon Feb 12 12:18:02 -0800 2007 1704423 10216 Lucia 1 2285198 How about hiccupping? This happens to my neighbor, and I thought it was just a joke form the 1930s-40s? Mon Feb 12 12:31:25 -0800 2007 1704423 11097 coll 2 5021490 Hiccups may be connected to acid reflux. See http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Getting-Frequent-Hiccups?-Acid-Reflux-May-Be-Why&id=1087840. Fri Sep 11 05:31:37 -0700 2009 2285198 1108563 ddiasparra 1 2300431 Hi there, I well be 31 this year and to this day i still can not drink, any wine's(red's,white.bubbly) spirit's, Rum's or Vodka's! I first realized i had an allergic reaction to alcohol when i was at a wedding (many year's ago)and just touched my lip's to a wine glass, as you would at wedding's to have a small taste..it was just enought to touch my lip's and with that My face had become swollen, very very hot, red, blotchy, and i felt as if my heart were going to jump out of my chest( i think my blood pressue when mad that time). So now at the age of 31 I still can not touch wine's or anything else that i have noted above, beer's arent too bad, still getting a little red and hot but nothing as extreme as the Liquor and wine's. I did mention it too my dentist at one time when he asked if i were allergic to anything, i told him about the wine situation and he said that it was the "Sulfites" that i had the reaction too, it wasnt the actual alcohol it was that one ingrediant...so im wondering if it is that, and not the actual drinking of it?????Im glad all the same it's just not me that get's like this if and when having a social drink , it's soo shameful, to have a bright face that takes forever too cool down..... Fri Feb 16 14:15:15 -0800 2007 1704423 75101 smou 2 2300867 My mother is extrememly allergic to sulfites, but champagne doesn't bother her, I understand that it's ingested through the mouth and not the stomach and that makes the difference for some reason. She also used to drink Bully Hill wine from upstate NY but I think they're long gone. No sulfites, plus a really cool back story. Fri Feb 16 16:34:35 -0800 2007 2300431 11097 coll 2 2747831 I'm so glad someone has added vodka to the list of alcohol offences. I get the same reaction with fish but they said the sulphites have to be rreeeeally high for it to register on a blood test. I'm so glad that I'm just a party girl with rosie whatever and not scoricis of the liver. How can we combat these sulphates? I've tryed piriton but sometimes this can have a very nasty reaction with booze. I have all sorts of skin troubles does everyone else or is it only with drink? My skin troubles include ecsema and psiorisis only mildly but severe on my hands after a night on the lash. Love to hear a sulphate cure as I have been told I was having panick attacks when perfectly happily because I couldn't breathe etc. I knew they were wrong cheers guys Fri Jul 13 14:45:00 -0700 2007 2300431 111658 aimie 1 2300948 My hubby gets a lovely splotchy neck and face after drinking any white lspirits like vodka or gin. He also gets very mouthy (more than usual) I think it is a reaction to the white spirits but its not something that seems to bother him. My sister is very allergic to champagne and gets very red and her face will actually swell. Ruined her honeymoon night. Fri Feb 16 17:00:29 -0800 2007 1704423 27101 bolivianita 1 2301017 My first suggestion is to ask your doctor about it. It sounds a little scary and there might be some kind of medical explanation that will make sense. I have a friend who is Japanese and cannot drink at all because she lacks a particular enzyme needed to metabolize alcohol--she describes reactions that are similar to what you shared here (lots of people of Asian descent are prone to this, from what I understand). While it is good to know others experience similar symptoms, I think you should talk to someone who might know more about how we process alcohol, like a doctor. I'd hate to think you could not drink at all--maybe there are certain kinds of beverages that precipitate this kind of reaction in you that would be good to know about. Fri Feb 16 17:30:16 -0800 2007 1704423 69011 liveforfood 2 3146768 Hi there - months after you posted this comment about your friend lacking the enzyme need to break down alcohol but - interested in your friend's diagnosis. How can they diagnose that you have not got the enzymes - alcohol dehydrogenase?? More importantly can it be fixed?? I'm 40 and haven't been able to drink for 5 years now as I get violently, violently ill (vomitting, diarrheoa) for hours after even a very small drink of spirits, liquers, wine, champagne or beer. Am desperate to fix it as not drinking for the next 30 years is a most depressing thought!!! Help?? Wed Nov 21 17:26:45 -0800 2007 2301017 144776 wannadrink 3 4333039 wannadrink you are not the only one who get violently ill I spent 2 hours throwing up after I took niquile instead of dayquile I have not been able to take a drink of any kind of alcohol in over 10 years...I have now gotten to the point that smell of alcohol makes my stomach turn and I have had to avoid foods cooked with alcohol, I have talked with both my doctor and allergist and both seem to think it is an allergic reaction at first they thoght food but I react to all alcohols now they think it is how my liver proscesses alcohol...he csays my reaction compairs to that of alcoholics who are taking enzyme pills so they can not intake any alcohol. If it is just some types of alcohol then it my be a food allergy to something they all contain. Fri Jan 16 14:25:36 -0800 2009 3146768 257828 prosserl 3 4975842 I know your post is old but I have desperately been searching for a solution for 28 yrs! My problem is I get violently ill-severe headache (think severe hangover) for 3 or more days , from just a SIP of anything alcoholic. I enjoy the taste and experience of a glass of wine or a cocktail . I know in the grand scheme of things - "I should just get over it" and I can live without alcohol , and have for all these years But I really miss an occasional alcoholic anything. I've tried "chasers" hangover med from GNC) taken prior and while drinking, works great for some of my friends. Also tried all the usual- no wines , sulfate frees wine, only top shelf or white liquors, no sweet drinks. Did you ever find a solution? I am a nurse , and I definitely buy into the issue of lacking the enzyme to break down the alcohol so therefore it remains in my system longer or makes toxins other who tolerate alcohol don't . Good luck with your quest for help as well, maybe you are even better by now- that would be great.I will try the pepcid and singulair but I am desperate for any other ideas. I just even miss been able to go to a wine tasting, or tour a vineyards etc. Any help from anyone would be gratefully appreciated. Tue Aug 25 08:59:40 -0700 2009 3146768 1104349 doglover3 4 5111994 I'm not recommending this, as I'm not a doctor, but I have a friend who has a tough time drinking due to a similar reaction. He now takes Benadryl beforehand and has no reaction. Again, to reiterate, I'm not suggesting you try it, just that it works for him. Sun Oct 18 08:31:09 -0700 2009 4975842 92744 invinotheresverde 1 2416972 This is in fact a problem with people from the Pacific rim, myself included. We tend to lack alcohol dehydrogenase which helps to metabolize alcohol. Needless to say that makes me a pretty cheap date... Sat Mar 24 09:01:57 -0700 2007 1704423 54328 khainajr 1 2456465 I have the same problem. It occurs only sometimes and seems to be more prevalent with wine, wine coolers, champagne, and other drinks with sugar. I am not diabetic or sugar-sensitive and have had these reactions periodically for the past 20 years (since I took my first sip of Champagne). My face gets flushed to varying degrees. Sometimes it's moderate, other times it is frighteningly red. Then I get a strange burning/pain sensation in my torso, from my shoulders down to my abdomen. The only way I can describe it is that it feels like my cells are being squeezed. Usually I can tolerate it okay, but a couple of times it was so bad that I was on my hands and knees from the pain. It usually lasts 10-20 minutes, then goes away and does not return even if I continue to drink. I should mention that I am not asian. I am caucasian of Polish/German ancestry. I have never had this reaction with beer. And again, it only happens sometimes (very unpredictable). Fri Apr 06 06:31:29 -0700 2007 1704423 89143 thebeann 2 3118770 Interesting that you mention sugar content- I've wondered if the this reaction is linked to the high sugar content alcohols. I do seem to get red more often with champagne or margaritas, but I've also gotten it with Belvedere and diet tonic. Has anyone else noticed the sugar correlation? Mon Nov 12 16:20:07 -0800 2007 2456465 142463 Wosey67 2 4276484 i am glad someone mention sugar content as well..i like to drink strwberry margaritas ans it doesnt happen rite away, but my face swells and so does my abdomen...this never happened until about a month month and a half ago...have had all sorts of bloodwork done bc swelling doesnt go away for long....no one can figure it out... Sat Dec 27 15:28:51 -0800 2008 2456465 251854 cherbehave 1 2456813 i get this occasionally, usually really bad on my neck. its always quite embarassing in social situations. my husband has had this happen 3 times in 10 years- with a fair amount of drinking in those years- and it has gotten progressively worse each time. last time his face was really red and blotchy with raised blotches and his pulse was going abnormally fast. it really scared me. wish we could figure out how to avoid it! we'll try the pepcid. Fri Apr 06 08:29:58 -0700 2007 1704423 49202 bfry 2 2459223 I've also been getting this flushing for a couple of years now and I am only 20. However, its changed recently in that I don't remember flushing anymore, although it still might happen but just not as intense as before. Instead, I will randomly wake up with small pimple sized red scars all over my face. It has only happened to me like 5 times, but enough for me to link it directly to alcohol, and probably eating food, especially cheese from pizza. Does anybody know what these scars are? they look like a small allergic reaction and they only stay for a day or two, but I still wish I didn't get them. Sat Apr 07 11:32:43 -0700 2007 2456813 89527 fr4n 2 2609607 I get this, normally on the second day of a boozing seshion, but randomly at other times. Starts with a difficulty in breathing, heart rate speeds up, then i will get the "red mask" effect which is very embarrassing, if i stop drinking it goes, then once it has gone i can drink how ever much i want and it wont come back that night! weird... Also had it once on a plane with no alcohol involved. Advice i would give is to drink slowly and if you feel the first symtoms, stop, then start drinking again after they have gone. Tue May 29 06:34:07 -0700 2007 2456813 101780 beeps26 1 2687911 Hi all, this used to happen (turned bright red from a drink or two). It was embarrassing to even drink a toast at a wedding! Plus my sinuses also got stuffed up. I recently discovered that if I take claritin in the afternoon before drinking (so it has time to kick in) I am fine! (Seems so obvious now...!) PS I am not Asian but I am very fair skinned and that seemed to play into it as well. Sat Jun 23 17:13:54 -0700 2007 1704423 107472 markndc 2 2687948 Wondering after reading this thread, if any of you have ever had a pain or discomfort behind ears, after drinking. This happened to me in my 30's after one tequilla drink and I stopped drinking tequilla. I did not have the red flush but did experience discomfort behind the ear lobes. It almost felt like I had mumps. Since then it has happened a few times after drinking wine. I wonder if an antihistimine could me this alcohol senstitivity? Sat Jun 23 17:32:47 -0700 2007 2687911 44946 foodseek 3 2709809 I have also had the same symptoms as all the others. After drinking Vodka about 15 to 30 minutes my face turns beat red and feels like it is sunburned. This first starting happening in my early 40's. Are we allergic to alchol? please help Sat Jun 30 16:37:39 -0700 2007 2687948 108978 Janiced 3 2862123 Just noticed this thread and wanted to tell foodseek that I experience something very similar around the ears. It seems to get me most often after the first swig of a beer: especially a very hoppy beer. I'm very curious to know the cause. Mon Aug 20 10:06:26 -0700 2007 2687948 12125 RoachCoach 1 2857305 I've been suffering from this condition also for 5 years now. My friends refer to it as "the rash". My face goes red, my body is covered in blotchy red skin and my hands and feet get incredibly itchy (the itchiness usually an indicator to me that the rash is coming on). It is extremely hard to predict sometimes I can drink myself into a coma and nothing. Other times I can have two drinks and I break out. I recognise that I have some sort of alcohol intolerance but refuse to allow this intolerance to affect the quality of my drinking life! Generally I find that the rash is more likely to raise its ugly head (so to speak) if i am dehydrated (and yes alcohol is a dehydrator) or haven't drunk as much water during the day as I ought to. Due to the dehydration issue, I have found that I am not intolerant to any specific kind of alcohol (ie wine) but rather all alcohol. I control the condition by immediately flooding myself with water. Can be uncomfortable and inconvenient but the rash subsides and I can continue to enjoy my night out. Sat Aug 18 04:30:41 -0700 2007 1704423 120158 eelrak 2 2857775 Hi, Last night I has a few sips of vodka and then my nose starting running, I continued to eat and drink. Then my eyes felt itchy, my scalp felt itchy as well as my chest. By the time I had finished my food and two vodkas and left the restaurant my right eye was almost swollen shut and the left a bit swollen. The bridge of my nose was also a bit swollen. Please has any one else has this happen? Scared the crap out of me. I don't think it was the food because it started while we were eating guacamole and salsa which I have had a million times. I am 52 and all I need is to have to give up drinks! Sat Aug 18 10:17:32 -0700 2007 2857305 120201 hooverdoover 3 3765565 Hey, im 22 year old and and for the past month and a half every time i take a sip of beer, wisky vodka or even wine my right eye gets swollen and every time is progresive so be carefull i recomend u go to an allergist that what im gonna do!!!! Allergra 180mg helps with the swelling Mayra from Puerto Rico Mon Jun 09 20:43:52 -0700 2008 2857775 199416 lluviamagenta 1 2888070 I think it may be a combination allergic reaction to certain ingredients in the alcohol, and an enzyme problem thats not breaking down the alcohol. I used to love a cold beer on a hot summer day and have also drank more than my share of Bourbon and Cokes, but I developed the same problem as the rest of you about 10 years ago. I've found that clear alcohol like Vodka, Rum, and Gin are o.k. (especially the better brands), but dark liquor is no good (i.e. Bourbon, Scotch,etc...). I suspect it's the way they are made or the ingredients used, although I can't confirm that. Occasionally I can get away with a cold Coors Light (very occasionally), but Bud, Miller, Heineken are no-no's. Anything that is "Malty" I've got to stay away from. I've also developed other allergies to pet dander, dust, grasses, mold that I never had before, although I don't know if that's related. Let me know if this helps and I will get back to you when I try the Pepcid trick. Mon Aug 27 21:05:26 -0700 2007 1704423 122711 Kenneth8122 1 2894185 I thought I had a reaction to alcohol, but when I read the contents of the alcohol labels, turns out I'm allergic to the sulfites in some kinds (cheap) of wines and even some beers. I react by having a sore neck and a feeling of my throat closing and/or numbness in my chest. This hasn't turned me off of alchol, but I read labels first! (After reading some of the replies on this board, I wonder if age has something to do with it too. I never had this when I was younger.) Wed Aug 29 15:00:18 -0700 2007 1704423 123206 love2eatndrink 2 2914614 Some years ago I read something that suggested that French wine (e.g. champagne) tended to contain sulfites, that Australian wine tended not to, and that American wine might or might not depending on the style of wine the winemaker was emulating. It's an additive, you see, not inherent in the grape (sorta like caffeine in soda). And because some people do have sulfite sensitivity, most wine bottles say "Warning: May Contain Sulfites," which is nicely unillustrative because it's used everywhere. Not that anybody here should be relying on my imperfect memory, but I'm also not sure whether that answers the original question. Rosacea could be part of it (this is different from alcohol dehydrogenase deficit that makes alcohol more toxic for longer in those who have the deficit), or an allergy to an additive in the mixed drink (e.g. to a botanical in gin, although there wasn't any gin here). Or it could be something about the champagne and vodka - crappy versions of either can & does have odd effects on undergraduates. I suggest more testing! Wed Sep 05 19:03:36 -0700 2007 2894185 96788 tcd 2 5111570 I get the 'blotch' all over very rarely but intensely even when I drink beer with the Bavarian puity law limiting ingedients to barley, water, hops, yeast. Could yeast rather than sulfites be the cause? Sat Oct 17 22:26:07 -0700 2009 2894185 1117187 nichol0 1 2911780 I've read down through the answers and haven't seen any reply that referred to sulfites that are used in wines and beer as preservatives. My symptoms were a terrific sinus headache that seemed to last for days. I thought I was allergic to scented candles I was burning but it turns out it was the sulfites in wine. I also have the same reaction to the diet softdrinks, but that is caused by Phenylalaine. Your reaction and mine are certainly different but it would be interesting to see if the drinks that caused your reaction contained sulfites. Wed Sep 05 06:32:02 -0700 2007 1704423 123392 Pam Wright 1 2911881 It's called "Asian Flush", but it isn't confined to Asians. My mother (Ashkenazi Jewish) suffered from it for years. Since having cancer, and losing a dramatic amount of weight, it doesn't seem to bother her and she can have a beer or two without turning red and itching. She never found an effective "treatment" for it. Benadryl and the like made no difference, so she was the designated driver for oh, 30 years? Wed Sep 05 07:07:57 -0700 2007 1704423 120180 tzurriz 1 2966812 Hi reallyrednails! I'm a 27 y/o german/irish male and this happens to me as well. I'm a social drinker and I've been experiencing it for about 3 years now. When it started i had no idea what it was, it didn't matter what i had to drink or what i had to eat that day, it would just attack randomly, but only if i were consuming alcohol (and like i said it could be any drink like vodka/or beer/or wine). My symptoms are the same, i first get blotchy on my face/neck area only, then it feels like it is on fire, particularly my cheeks, and i get really short of breath. I've consulted a dermatologist about the problem (as my roommate is one, so it was easy) and she told me that there are many ethnicities and profiles that just develop allergies to yeast/yeas products as they get older. So she said that there really is no cure for it, but when it occurs it is advised that you must stop drinking (of course)... and i usually just go outside or to an area where i can get fresh air... and i will also drink plenty of water. I hope that helps!! Sat Sep 22 17:47:06 -0700 2007 1704423 129321 mike1980 1 2996857 Similar issues & roseacea possibilities drove me to try a no-fermented-stuff/no-yeast diet, and it has really made me feel much better. I'm trying yeasted breads again to see how it goes, and I miss the complex flavors in Parmigiano Reggiano, but I don't miss the flush and itch/tingle of wines & other aged cheeses. Try going without for a few weeks and see how you feel! Tue Oct 02 11:56:12 -0700 2007 1704423 39904 Bananna A. 1 3027287 Pay close attention to when you eat certain oils (found in chips or crackers) or certain seafoods (especially with wine). I have not been able to identify exactly what combination makes me get flush in the face, hives/redness on my chest - and in the most severe instance, I was doubled over gasping for oxygen while at a wedding (luckily I made it to the bathroom and had benydryl with me). It was Greek red wine if that is any help. Anyway, fish and wine can make a problem and chips and any alcohol can be a problem. Not every time. Unfortunately it is hard to narrow it down when the ingredients on the chip bag says, "may contain any one or more of the following oils: canola, olive, all vegetable, peanut, sesame, blah blah blah" So, I stick with steak when I drink and never eat chips when I drink. For what it's worth. Oh one more thing!!!! MSG and alcohol is a big NO NO NO! Better have your epi-pen. Thu Oct 11 20:19:23 -0700 2007 1704423 134068 kchow 1 3071650 I am 22 years old. I used to never have reactions to alcohol.....i used to get "warm" but I never broke out. Since about age 20, every other time I drink alcohol, I break out. {I get hot, my face gets beat red and anywhere I have a pimple...back, neck etc becomes bright red!} ............any suggestions?!!! I have tried switching liquours which sometimes randomley works (going from hard liqour to beer or wine) is there and allergy to alcohol????????? whats up please help. This never used to happen, now it a common occurance. Thanks ---Karl Fri Oct 26 21:58:18 -0700 2007 1704423 137890 z28kb 2 3087688 Hello everyone, I am 36 years old and, like many of you, use to drink alcoholic beverages without a reaction when I was between the ages of 21 - 26. Now I get severe reactions no matter what alcoholic beverage I attempt to drink. Because of this, I had to figure out a way to enjoy a nice cold beer or wine without the reaction. For me, taking benedryl 15 minutes before drinking the alcoholic beverage eliminates the side effects. I am not a doctor, nor am I telling you what to do; however, I am informing you that it works for me. If you are thinking about trying benedryl, consult your doctor first to make sure it is right for you! .........-Jim Thu Nov 01 17:46:56 -0700 2007 3071650 139563 tornajim 2 3148220 Hey z28kb unless I've missed something your post is the first to mention that any blemish on the body goes bright red. This is identical for me, any old scar or blemish turns pink-like my blotchy face, I also get a throbbing headache! The frustrating thing is that I just can't find a common denominator. The first time I ever experienced it I was about 27 and had raw tuna, I also happened to have several glasses of wine! I put it down to the fish as had never tried it before whereas me and wine are good friends! However, since then it has become so regular but every time it happens I have eaten or drunk something different! I had almost decided it was when I eat nuts and drink white wine - which I'm still contemplating as the last two times it happened I've been drinking white wine and eating some sort of nut, cashews on one occasion and almonds on another. Although thinking about it on some occasions I've just been drinking-no food at all so again that theory is out the window! Whatever it is I'm allergic to the last time it flared up and my head was pounding, face all purple and blotchy, I took one piritin and two ibuprofens with a small bottle of water and within half an hour was back to normal! The mystery goes on......... Thu Nov 22 15:15:01 -0800 2007 3071650 144913 milliemurphy 3 3151382 Wow, I thought I was the only one that did this stuff! I am 49 and have been experiencing this for 10 to 12 years. Like most of you, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. It does not seem to matter what kind of alcohol it is but it seems to happen more often if I drink 2 or 3 fairly quickly. It comes on very quickly, I get very hot and get rapid shallow breathing. I have found that the Pepcid works for me. if I forget to take it before I start drinking and have an attack, I take a Pepcid and about 3 Tums. In about 30 minutes I usually feel fine. I have had a couple of episodes where it really scared me though. I was wondering if any of you have experienced this. After the flushed feeling and rapid breathing started, all of a sudden I collapsed and could not lift my arms or legs. I became extremely weak and had slurred speach. I felt like all the muscles in my body just quit working. After 20 minutes or so, I slowly started feeling ok again. This actually scared me so badly, I told my husband that if it ever happens again I want him to call 911. Sat Nov 24 13:11:09 -0800 2007 3148220 145268 shogan 4 3375227 I know this is late compared to the last post, but I just looked up my symptoms and found this board. Does anyone experience the heat and redness of certain body parts? When I drink any alcohol ( used to be red wine only) my left ear gets hot and beat red and I get that sunburn look on my nose and cheeks. This is new to me -probably within the last year, around the time I turned 40. My left foot also gets hot?! Anyboby with exact areas that turn red - and what did you do for it? I have never had a skin problem before. I was going to see an accupucturist to see where the heat is coming from. Any suggestions welcomed! Thu Feb 07 16:50:55 -0800 2008 3151382 164147 ahs70433 5 3376931 I am not a doctor, and no, I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Prescription Singulair might be the solution to these episodes. Fri Feb 08 08:43:46 -0800 2008 3375227 162814 darwyn 5 4575093 I know this is many months after your post, but there is something called red ear syndrome that you might want to look into. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8797453 Tue Apr 07 09:52:38 -0700 2009 3375227 165069 eloopy 4 3477980 I never had a problem with drinking until I was 22. I will be 25 in a couple months and it is progressively getting worse. My redness and itching will mostly happen on the ears, but I get an extremely rapid heart rate and rapid and shallow breathing. This happens on my first drink. This will keep me up all night sometimes. Sometimes if I keep drinking I get past it and am tipsy enough to fall asleep, but the next day my heart rate and shallow breathing pick up again all day, sometimes causing me to hyperventelate. That is when I can't move my arms and legs either. This is so severe we have called 911. All of this is the day after and I don't know why or how to stop it. Mon Mar 10 10:12:01 -0700 2008 3151382 173406 helloall 1 3497052 I have had this happen too. It happens to me just after a few sips. My heart rate does not speed up or anything but my face will turn red and feel hot and my arms also will turn red. I hope that it is not dangerous, I guess I will have to ask my doctor. Sat Mar 15 21:09:17 -0700 2008 1704423 175108 nate192 2 3594806 I have had a few incidents now and I'm getting concerned. I have been drinking for the past six years and didn't have any problems up to this year. Actually I never ever got a hangover until this year also. I don't drink heavy and it is a good thing I don't. It seems that when I drink my body isn't doing what it should with it. As the year is progressing the amount of alcohol i consume at party's or what not gets smaller and I still have the same reaction. A few days ago I had four drinks total in a four to 5 hour span and the same think happened when I had 8 in the 9 hour span last week and the 20 in 9 hours 9 months ago. At this point i would be happy with a red mask. I start convulsing and not breathing, my pulse hasn't been checked for obvious reasons, my bal goes haywire, My temp goes up and I start getting pick. There seems to be no rhymes or reason to this. I am told it might be an allergy but I don't know. Any ideas with this? Mon Apr 14 21:25:24 -0700 2008 3497052 183690 cuee116 1 3728713 I also have noticed that when I first start drinking any kind of alcohol beverage, I get rosy cheeks and feel hot, but it I eat right away sometimes it will go away, but usually by the time I have finished my drink and have another the rosy cheeks is gone.. to me it's annoying specially at parties. So your not alone. I have noticed with me it's worse with beer and wine, not so bad with hard alcohol. Wed May 28 16:10:27 -0700 2008 1704423 196032 bratt72 1 3734293 My mom had a similar effect after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Fri May 30 09:08:49 -0700 2008 1704423 133355 jspear 1 3757677 OP here....2 years later almost to the day. I thought I'd post an update: I went wine tasting in Napa a few months ago. The first stop was at Gloria Ferrar Champagne cellars; had a few sips of something lovely, felt my face get warm and stopped drinking the champagne. Next stop (after lunch) was at Coppola; I drank about 6 different wines (both white and red) and didn't get any reaction. The third and last stop was at Opus One, drank almost 1/2 glass of wine and no reaction. About a month ago I went out for dinner with a client, and decided to have a mixed drink (Screwdriver) instead of risking a reaction from wine and my face got very warm. I usually don't drink anything other than wine but now I see I can get a reaction from almost any alcohol. I had actually forgotten about the Toxic Waste drink, remembering only my experiences with wine. I decided what the heck and finished the drink anyway, and gradually was cooler by the end of the dinner. I drank a lot of water too, to cool down. I went to a business lunch about 2 weeks ago, had two sips of wine (I forget if it was white or red) and felt warm right away. So, I'm glad, sort of, that I'm not the only one who gets these reactions, and thanks to all you wonderful Chowhounds for providing me with your feedback and suggestions. I realli appreciate it. Fri Jun 06 17:31:27 -0700 2008 1704423 14447 rednails 2 3781999 I'm 67 years old and non-Asian. Can no longer drink beer (cluster headaches) or wine (asthmatic reaction). Also get red mask. Now a simple rum and coke triggers dizziness and shortness of breath. Tried benadryl before drinks and get fatigued. Only bedrest seems to help. Guess my system has finally said "enough alcohol". So, I'm going to stop unless a cure can be found. Sun Jun 15 09:16:34 -0700 2008 3757677 195583 edyak 3 3929169 I sometimes have the red face reaction along with jaw pain. I probably have one to two margaritas a month at the same restaurant, and the last two times, the bottoms of my feet have started seriously itching. I guess this is an allergic reaction. Mon Aug 04 12:53:32 -0700 2008 3781999 215891 PhoebeMcB 1 3930183 I am so happy to hear I am not the only one! About a year ago, I would drink rum or tequila and get red cheeks, and a blotchy neck and chest. I thought it was hard alcohol and citrus. Well a year later, as I get older(36) I drink anything and I turn red and blotchy! It sucks!!! I thought I was safe with Wine or Beer.. Now it happens with that also.. Maybe it's my age, or something. It goes away after a while but when I am out it is terribly embarrassing! I leave right away. It is also now spreading to my arms.. I don't get shortness of breath or anything but I get the reaction of "Oh my God, what is wrong with you?" I was looking at a post from a few years ago and wondering if the Pepcid really works... Any help?? Mon Aug 04 18:52:34 -0700 2008 1704423 215994 Kimann220 2 3997131 It's a common reaction. Read my post above. There is a fair amount of evidence that you can "train" the enzymes to work correctly by taking small sips of alcohol rather frequently. Drinking less frequently actually makes the problem worse. Fri Aug 29 12:58:09 -0700 2008 3930183 18222 maria lorraine 1 4115386 ok so i get some of those same symptoms and im only 21 now i get really worried and i have people tell my that i may be allergic to alcohol! I get flush in te face most of the time ...not to red....and then this last time i drank i broke out in a red hot rash on my arms.. it scared me and i stopped drinking! is it safe for me to still drink?? Sun Oct 19 22:07:41 -0700 2008 1704423 233744 Jenna8720 1 4116543 I'm glad I found this forum as well. I'm a 28 yo Caucasian of German/Austrian and Irish descent, and I first began noticing these symptoms about 18 months ago. I have the same redness on my face and neck, sometimes spreading to my hands. My head feels hot and my throat tightens. I feel pressure in my eyes, and I usually experience some nasal discomfort. This can happen regardless of whether I'm drinking wine, beer or liquor. When I drink, it's usually either Guinness or vodka tonics, and I always drink the same brand vodka. It don't always get the symptoms--probably less than 25% of the times I drink; but I also normally stay well hydrated. I noticed in another post that hydrating helped another person, so I will try that first, next time I have symptoms. It's quite annoying. My entire face doesn't turn red, I get peppered with bright red blotches, which make me look like a camouflaged beet. At any rate, best of luck to everyone else who's a victim of this nastiness. Mon Oct 20 12:29:14 -0700 2008 1704423 233849 somecallmechief 1 4278015 I am not a doctor or a fermentation scientist but have been an alcohol industry professional for the last 15 years. I feel it is important to continue to highlight certain things we DO know and avoid confustion in regard to some things that "might" be causitive that are actually just correlative. It might be informative to first note that if we truly understood the multitude of ways that alcohol effects humans we'd have a cure for the hangover by now. When we drink, there are so many vectors involved, it is very very hard to know what things are actually at work, especially if you don't otherwise have similar reactions in non-alcohol related situations. Further complicating things are the situations where you DON'T have the reaction. Invididuals have different thresholds for what makes them sick. For some one to have a reaction to something there needs to be a viable amount of that thing present. i.e. smelling the hippie-lettuce at a concert won't get you high but hot-boxing your big brothers van to Spicoli-esque proportions might make you think twice about trying to balance your check book in the next few hours. So how much of a thing there is, means a lot. But then there is the issue of a "catalyst." Meaning, maybe you can eat all the processed meat you want and sulfites don't bother you but add in the impurities that come from oak ageing and those two things together make you break out. And as long as we are on sulfites...MariaLorraine already mentioned this but it bears repeating--it is unlikely this reaction comes simply from sulfites. For those unfortunate few who react negatively to ANY level of sulfites, they know this not from drinking alcohol but from all sorts of different exposures--and this is most likely in asthmatics (yet another vector involved) and not people who just happen to have super-sensitivity to sulfites. Without going all cork-dork on you, let me suffice to say that all grapes produce sulfites and unless a very invasive (read turns the wine to crap) process is used, to remove them all wines from anywhere in the world have sulfites. But yet again, we are back to talking about viable amounts. A generally accepted level is 10 ppm, below that and it is very uncommon to have a reactions--above that level is when wine bottles must carry a warning. But as has also been noted, there are other things at play. Externalities that have nothing to do with alcohol can have a significant role in how you react to that first Alabama Slammer. Stress, diet, rest and various health issues can contribute to certain reactions. And most importantly in this particular case, the amount of dehydrogenase your body produces. Men will tend to produce more than women, Aisians will tend to produce less than caucasians etc., but these are just tendecies. There are Asian women who can drink with the best of us. But let's just take this to the extreme for the sake of example: a 90 lbs asthmatic Asian woman who has not eaten for three days and is stressed out of her mind about the fact that she has just been diagnosed with an immune system related disease and has slept three hours last night is probably much more likely to have some sort of less than ideal reaction to an Irish Car Bomb. You could make her close to menopause if you really wanted to gild the lilly. And we're not even finished yet. There are all sorts of impurities in alcohol. On purpose. In addition to fruit, yeast, or grain derived substances, there are natural food chemicals and the impurities that come from ageing the product in wood. Now once again, there needs to be a viable amount and it may only cause a reaction in conjuction with the presense of a "catalyst." I had a colleague who got a slight flush whenever there was a wine that was aged in American oak, in any quantity. For the poor wine salesperson who was ashamed of using American oak barrels, there was no escaping his cheeks. So there are just sooooo many variables involved it is hard to know what or why. And, when faced with a relatively simple solution--just don't drink--doctors are often hesitant to spend the time needed to figure out why you turn pink when you drink. Especially if pink doesn't kill you. So I leave you all with the famous Latin phrase often used to teach basic logic. Post hoc ergo propter hoc. After it therefore becuase of it. But it is used as an example of "flawed" logic. Sun Dec 28 13:19:32 -0800 2008 1704423 96313 ellaystingray 2 4288513 Adding my name to the list of people who experience some kind of reaction to drinking alcohol: My face, neck and arms turn hot, red, and itchy. Therea are so many uncontrolled variables at play that I haven't been able to pin down the exact culprit. It seems to be mostly red wine, that could be because I drink that more than other alcohol. It also seems to happen more with cheap wine. I thought it was sulfites but I tried the wines that claimed to be sultfite free and that didn't change anything. I'm not Asian. Thu Jan 01 17:22:27 -0800 2009 4278015 248284 taos 3 4333498 Found this thread by a fluke and yes, add me to the list. 49 year old white female. I started flushing and feeling heat in my face about a year ago when I drank wine. Now it can be any alcoholic drink and to make matters worse (or better, depending on your orientation!) it doesn't always happen....even with identical drinks. I am going to start a drink and food diary to find any possible correlations and I hope that many of you do the same so that we might find similarities. Yes, it's embarrassing to have people constantly commenting on my red face. Fri Jan 16 17:57:40 -0800 2009 4288513 46305 amela 1 4412321 yup same problem - god I thought i was wierd but theres lots of ppl with the blochy red itchy burning face rash...sooo anoying! anyway i have had this problem for as long as I can remember and on some days i can drink and im fine and other times i get the reaction! I have experimented and in my case not saying this applies to all - its what i eat during the day!! If i eat bread potato rice ect (carbs mainly) there is no way i will be able to drink, however if i eat salad and whatever meat and avoid carbs 99% of the time I am fine and can drink LOTS! so might be worth a try...good luck! :) MM Thu Feb 12 16:28:31 -0800 2009 1704423 266362 mmusic26 2 4440293 Must admit I haven't been keeping track. Although...I *have* been using a glass or two of wine to bring on the flush during these cold winter days...It's like a built-in heater! Sat Feb 21 19:13:03 -0800 2009 4412321 46305 amela 2 4454039 My allergic symptoms to alcohol is quite severe: red itchy skin from neck down, all the way to my feet. In one worst case, the skin abnormality is so intense that there is very few spot in my body that is free from it. My whole body became unbearably heated and when the itchy skin swelled and became quite painful when touched. I was hospitalized for two or three days for it, feeling like dying. But strangely, my face is always free from symtoms. In mostl cases, it is not just a mild discomfort. It takes at least two to three days to recover, and during the days I am very reluntant to move my body because it generates lots of discomfort. I have this problem since I was a kid. As far as I remember, red wine and beers were the culprit. Normally, a 2/3 of a glass bottle of beer is the limit to be safe. And a few sip of red wine is ok, but a glass of red wine will put me down for sure. Because the adversity is so strong that I have the drinking phobia and I am afraid to try other kind of alcohol. So I do not if liquer would cause the same problem or not. I have been thinking I am allergic to alcohol, but recently I have the similar symptoms without drinking alcohol. So it got me thinking that maybe it is certain kind of ingredient in acoholic drinks that has cause so much discomfort. However, a blood test I did last year revealed that I am not allegic to anything. The doctor in Toronto told me that all my reaction is just alcohol intolerance and no big deal. I just do not believe her since such a severe symptom should be an allergy. At one point I felt like dying. Food intolerance can be that intense. I really want to know how to find the culprit. I am healthy and young, The problem is consistant since I was a kid. Now I am 30. I am an Asian. Thu Feb 26 08:51:09 -0800 2009 4412321 270014 sudongyue 3 4524581 sudongyue - reading your blog was like reading my own story, and many others on this site too. I've spent the last 75 minutes reading thru this forum & found it really interesting. I'm sorry this blog is large but I'm really curious to find a cure!!! I get the incredibly itchy palms & feet (not all the time) which generally gives me hives that night or the next day (not all the time) Last week I had a few too many drinks on a Saturday night & when I woke up on the Sunday my forehead was raised, my scalp felt stretched & on fire, and I had the blotches on my inner arms & calves/inner legs. Christmas of 06 through to Feb 07 I suffered Glandular Fever. Prior to this I had no alergies apart from cat fur. Our work Christmas party of 06 was a buffet dinner which included prawns - all through my life I have been a seafood junkie. I had 4 king prawns with my dinner that night as well as consuming alcohol. Monday morning I woke up to a completely swollen face, my left eye was almost shut & my right was on its way. I looked like I had downsyndrome. It was a sudden seafood allergy. I tried 1 tiny prawn Christmas 08 & the next day my face was all scaly for a day. June 07 my sister got married & I was a bridesmaid. While we were getting ready @ my house my feet were really itchy but didn't think anything of it as I hadn't experienced this before. Later, we were having the professional photos taken in the park. We had already had 2 champagnes (which I don't generally drink) & all of a sudden my ear started to burn & my lips went numb. I still looked normal, so continued to drink scotch & coke at the wedding. When I got home, the backs of my calves were red, raised & burning. I took some Polaramine (Aussie antihistamines) & went to bed. The next morning my legs were still red with hives but not as bad. Since then I've had allergy scratch tests which come back positive to cat hair, seafood & dairy. My itchy raised hives still come up on my arms, scalp & legs when I consume alcohol (mainly scotch, sometimes vodka, baileys, beer) but not all the time! I've had the hives after eating pizza, and subway without grog. I've been slack & never kept a food diary which I think might be my next step - however I'm leaning more & more towards sulphites ... or wheat. You read so many different things on the net & it's so hard to know what's right or not. I hope this thread keeps up with suggestions etc as I'm about to bookmark it to check it occasionally :) Good luck peeps Sat Mar 21 01:32:38 -0700 2009 4454039 276171 Classic79 1 4534358 OP here again. I just saw an article in today's New York Times about medical research that says there is a link between this effect and cancer: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/health/research/21alcohol.html?_r=1&hpw I drink very little now, not because of this problem, just because I don't really drink much any more. I'd rather get my calories from food.....and I don't have any calories to spare. Tue Mar 24 13:51:23 -0700 2009 1704423 14447 rednails 1 4575159 This happened to me 4 times in my early twenties. Twice after a couple of sips of wine, twice with no clear reason. Then it stopped. I'm 28 now, and it just happened twice in one week! No wine involved though. Both times in the morning, both after having grapefruit for breakfast when I usually have eggs, and both times I was a little stressed out. I also put a tsp of apple cider vinegar in my water in the mornings. I don't know anything about chemistry, so I'm not sure if the acetic acid from the vinegar plus the acetalahyde from the ripe grapefruit together would cause the flushing, but it seems reasonable. In any case, the same reaction can be brought on without alcohol, at least for me. Tue Apr 07 10:10:56 -0700 2009 1704423 165069 eloopy 2 4686771 I FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS; the only thing that works for me is Zyrtec-D. It's over the counter, but you have to go and ask the pharmacist for it and they'll get it for you behind the counter. I think it's more so the pseudoephedrine in it that helps. If I take a Zyrtec-D I can drink pretty much anything and any quantity and have NO red, warm blotches at all. Definitely worth a try if you want it stopped while drinking. I take it earlier in the day for sinus problems anyway. If you try it, take it at least an hour or two before you drink so the pill has a chance to work. Fri May 15 09:51:35 -0700 2009 4575159 292944 knowwhathelps 1 5031362 Please forgive me if I am re-posting. Alcohol is a vaso-dilator, meaning it opens up your blood vessels and can cause a flush (flush=symptoms you described). This exacerbated by any and all medications you are on, prescribed or OTC; vitamins and supplements and if you have or pre-disposed to any what's called connective tissue disorder like lupus, MS, MG.... Check your medicine cab and see your dr Tue Sep 15 09:14:18 -0700 2009 1704423 1081531 drlee_susquespine