People all across the world struggle with this same issue. Whilst it may seem that this problem is taking over your nights out, there are some things you can do to reduce alcohol flush intolerance symptoms.
In this article, we will be going over the science of why this happens, what can be causing this issue, and what you can do about it.
Why Do I Go Red When Drinking Alcohol?
Great question! The simple answer is that a red flushed face/neck/chest after drinking alcohol is a sign that your body is ineffective in breaking down alcohol.
This response to alcohol is known as alcohol intolerance/Asian flush. Whilst Asian flush affects almost 1/10 people in the world (Many who come from Asian descent), you don't have to be Asian to have this problem.
Whilst many unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms come with having Asian flush, the main one is getting a red flushed face. This is due to your body being unable to effectively metabolize alcohol.
Symptoms of Asian Flush/Alcohol Flush
Many people experience a few or all these symptoms after drinking:
- Red face
- Nausea
- Migraines/headaches
- Increased heart rate
- Bloodshot eyes
- Dizziness
These symptoms can start to show up after just a sip of alcohol in some cases.
So, Why Does This Happen?
Before we jump into teaching you some ways you can combat this, we first need to go over the science of why this is happening in the first place.
When someone drinks alcohol, the alcohol travels down to the liver, where the liver produces a toxin called acetaldehyde which then breaks down further.
This process does not work the same for someone with Asian flush, which is what causes the blood vessels near the skin to dilate which causes heat and the red flush effect on the upper body.
How To Prevent Red Face When Drinking Alcohol?
When it comes to preventing this from ruining your night, there are a few different options that may help you reduce or avoid the red flushed face. Due to this being a genetic condition, there is no cure, although there are still some good options available to you.
Alcohol Flush Patches (Most Efficient Way)
One of the best ways to get rid of the symptoms of Asian flush is our Alcohol flush patches. Our patches are specifically designed to tackle these uncomfortable symptoms from drinking.
They are easy to apply and contain antioxidants and vitamins that help to break down the alcohol in an efficient and fast way, so you can enjoy your night without worrying about looking like a tomato.
Slow Down Drinks
Another great way to supplement the above strategy is to slow down your drinks, people who are missing the ALDH2 enzyme that breaks down alcohol, need to understand that keeping up with your friends who don't have to worry about going red may, not be possible.
Pacing your drinks is a good strategy to allow your body to break down what it can. This could mean not drinking for an hour or two, but this will allow enough time for your body to do what it can or if supplemented with our alcohol flush patches, will give enough time for the patches to break down the alcohol in your liver.
Watch Out For Antihistamines!
Some people who experience facial flushing with alcohol use antihistamines that are normally used to reduce heartburn or stomach acid build-up. While some people use this strategy, it is not the safest and most efficient idea
Mixing alcohol and antihistamines is not safe and can be pretty dangerous. This is due to antihistamines increasing blood alcohol content in the body. What this means whilst it may help tackle the issue for some, in most cases it will increase the alcohol level in your body to a much higher level. Antihistamines do not break down and reduce the toxins from alcohol whilst you're getting more alcohol into your system, you're not breaking it down, Which will result in severe reactions to alcohol and various other health risks.
How To Prevent Getting A Red Face After Drinking?
Now you know! To summarise what was explained in the article:
Why does my face go red when I drink? - Whilst there could be a few reasons, one of the main ones is that you may struggle with something called alcohol flush/Asian flush.
How do I stop going red when drinking? - Try our Flush Off patches out, you can also slow down your drinks and also avoid using antihistamines.
If you're interested in trying out alcohol flush patches click here.