It may be that having genes that lead to a slower breakdown of alcohol has been a positive or protective factor for East Asians – leading people to avoid alcohol, and so avoid alcohol problems. In contrast to Zantac and Tagamet, Pepcid may not increase blood alcohol levels as much, Davies said. flush alcohol So, Pepcid may be the best H2 blocker for preventing Asian glow, but it’s not the healthiest choice. Dr. Warren suggests avoiding spicy foods, and extra hot showers as these can also trigger similar looking and feeling rosacea flare-ups.
- It was also around this time I started to notice my face sometimes felt weird after drinking certain types of alcohol.
- This is toxic and can cause a histamine release, resulting in flushing and other symptoms.
- What’s more is that alcohol is packed with sugar, and some drinks such as beer, wine, and champagne are fermented as well.
- Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
What causes your face to turn red when you drink alcohol?
The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours, which represents how long it takes your body to get rid of half of the alcohol you have consumed. It takes five half-lives for your body to metabolize all of the alcohol you’ve had, anywhere between 20 to 25 hours on average. As aldehydes can be consumed or inhaled, besides aldehydes driving the risk for upper digestive tract cancer, aldehydes also can lead to vascular inflammation (Guo, 2023; Yu, 2022). This inflammation of the vascular system may over time potentially lead to cardiovascular and neurovascular disease (Zhang, 2023). Going red in the face can be uncomfortable, and the flush reaction can also be accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, headache, nausea, itching, a rash, and even vomiting.
What causes alcohol intolerance?
But if hangovers become more frequent, it might be time to get some help to cut back on your consumption. Our online alcohol rehab allows you to set goals for reducing drinking or eliminating alcohol altogether. According to Dr. Dendy Engelman, something as simple as dehydration and a “poor water balance” could contribute to flushing. “Alcohol leads to dehydration by inhibiting an antidiuretic hormone, which results in a net loss of water from the body,” Dr. Engelman says. “Poor water balance can lead to swelling, puffy eyes, under-eye circles, and dull-looking skin. Hydration is important to keep toxins flushed and fluid moving efficiently through the capillaries.” People who flush when they drink might have a faulty version of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene.
How to prevent and treat getting a red face from alcohol
People of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean descent are more likely to have alcohol flush reaction. At least 36 percent, and perhaps up to 70 percent, of East Asians experience facial flushing as a response to drinking alcohol. Long-term effects of alcohol consumption include alcohol withdrawal, increased body fat, liver disease, and other health complications.
- If you have any unpleasant symptoms after drinking alcohol, see your healthcare provider.
- But if facial flushing is an issue for you at all, avoiding alcohol in all its forms might be the next best and most equitable solution.
- People of other races and ethnicities, however, can also carry these variations.
- Individuals with more body fat generally have a higher BAC because low-water fatty tissue cannot absorb alcohol as well as high-water muscle tissue can.
- This is especially true if you did not consume adequate food before, during, and after drinking alcohol.
But when some of us go red, it’s for one particular reason – alcohol. In some parts of the world – particularly the USA – it’s known as “Asian flush” or “Asian glow”. That’s because it’s particularly common amongst East Asian people – people whose family origins are in China, Japan, Korea, or Taiwan. If you’re concerned about alcohol flush reaction and its potential implications for your health, you should speak with a healthcare provider. They can help you understand the root cause of the flush reaction in your specific case and guide you towards appropriate strategies to manage it.
