Face gets very flushed and hot when I drink...

Question

I understand that many people get flushed when they drink...but what happens to me is not the typical alcohol induced flushed face. I get extremely hot and my face, along with my chest and creases of my elbows get red and splotchy. This can happen after a few sips of beer, wine, whatever the drink happens to be. I've tried taking an antihistamine before drinking, but it doesn't seem to work. I am just wondering if this happens to you (or someone you know) and if there is any remedy that has worked. It isn't an allergy, I don't get sick or anything..just red, hot, and embarrassed. Serious answers please.

Answer 1

This sounds quite similar to what happens to my boyfriend when he drinks a certain drink (Tropical Sourz). I've seem him drink it on two seperate occasions and both times his entire face, nexk and upper chest went red and blotchy. Not itchy at all, just like a red flushed colour as if he was extremely embarassed. He too, does not get sick at all after drinking it just the previous symptoms I have mentioned.

We think that there is something in that specific drink that he is maybe allergic to. So he doesn't drink it anymore.

Seeing as this seems t happen to you after EVERY time you drink anything, maybe you are actually allergic to something in the alcohol, or even the alcohol itself. I recommend going to your doctor for a visit and explaining your problems as I'm sure they will be able to help and maybe they will haqve even seen a problem like yours before.

Don't be afraid and good luck!

Answer 2

This happens to my wife whenever she drinks liquor, almost all wines and many kinds of beer. We think that it is a function of sorbates or other preservatives that are put into wine and some beer in order to kill yeast and stabilize the liquor so it doesn't go bad.

She can drink my homebrew without problems, because I don't put anything funky in it.

Try some preservative free organic wine and see if the same behavior happens.