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Q: Asian Flush But Caucasian?

asked by: serrab on January 22nd, 2006

New User

Hello!

I was hoping someone could shed some light on my situation.

As of a few years ago i've been getting a flushed face upon drinking alcohol. My face gets very red and hot and, at its worst, I feel like I have a sunburn (sometimes the reaction is milder). The kickers? It doesn't happen every time I drink alcohol...Perhaps 1/2 to 2/3 of the time. Also, there seems to be no particular alcohol that brings on the flush. I've had it happen with wine, beer and hard liquor. I've also drunk any one of those types of alcohol and had no reaction whatsoever.

As far as I know there is no asian blood in my family. What what I have always been told is, my dad was the product of the union between a full-blooded italian (my grandmother) and a full-blooded irishman (my grandfather). My mom is supposedly from german, french, irish and italian decent.

I've finally met another caucasian woman with close to the same situation, but it happens every time she drinks (and it affects her neck as well as her face) and it has happened to her from the very first time she ever had a drink. (i think she is in her early 30's). Like I said, this only started for me a few years ago (2 1/2 - 3 I would guess) and I am 42!

If anyone has any input, ideas, comments, please respond.

Thank you!

Replies(8)

FJNxt

replied on January 22nd, 2006

New User

Go see a doctor lol.

Kimmeh

replied on January 22nd, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

That isn't an asian thing...It's an allergic reaction to the alcohol...And you don't have to be asian to get it..A lot of people from other cultures get it...Be it white, black, asian, native, etc. There is nothing you can do about it, it just happens.

serrab

replied on January 22nd, 2006

New User

If it is simply an allergic reaction why doesn't it happen every time? Why can I drink wine one day with no problem and the next drink the exact same wine (from the same bottle) and have a reaction. It just seems very odd.

I will mention it to my doctor, in fact I keep meaning to mention it to her and then I forget. You also get forgetful after you have babies and turn 40! ;)

i've written it down so when I go to the doc next month I will remember to mention it.

Thanks!

lybedo

replied on September 9th, 2008

New User

Asian Flush on a white girl

From what I've been reading and understand on the topic it is either an allergy to yeast or sulphates. Dependant on the type of wine that you drink this could be causing flush issues, I've even known people who can drink oaked wines but not unoaked wines. I findmy biggest skin alterations come from wines that are more chemically induced. The cleaner or more natural the less visual effect it has on my body. The best defense I've had without the embarassment of my instant sunburn look is to layer on the cover up on my face and chest before a night of drink and while I'm out. I hate having some fool comments on my "sunburn" which dependant on my mood or # of glasses I may play along!

sgtslahter

replied on February 27th, 2009

New User

Advice

Take 2-3 maximum strength Pepcid AC (or generic Famotidine 20mg) about an hour before drinking, preferably on an empty stomach. See if that helps.

eve180

replied on March 30th, 2009

New User

Another Asian Flush White Girl

I have recently been researching some on the ALDH2 deficiency which causes Asian Flush and have been very concerned (as a long time drinker) about its strong link to esophageal cancer. How likely is it that we caucasians are experiencing an allergic reaction as opposed to having this inability to break down the alcohol as many asians do?

mgbd

replied on June 15th, 2009

New User

Yet another Caucasian girl with Asian flush

Me too - I'm caucasian and I get the red splotchy face, etc. It's sporadic and does not depend on the type of alcohol. Also doesn't depend on how much I drink. Happened during college then it quit. Now I'm 38 and it started happening after I gave birth to my third child. Any relation to hormones? Or ALDH2? And I don't understand the ALDH2 study - how do I develop a tolerance so that my face doesn't always blush? Doesn't that mean that I am producing enough enzyme most of the time?

adelec

replied on October 2nd, 2009

New User

Asian flush curse !!

its such a relief to now know wat this curse is !! i have suuffered on nites out /girls holliday etc for many years sporadically.Mostly on the second consecutive nite of drinking this happens but i have to leave the party and go home Sad

,and i Hate missing out! lol.I am caucasion too with no one in my family complaining of same curse.I have asked my doctor but he was bemused by the Asian flush and told me i could spend the next 40yrs getting tests done to verify that i have it. So no resolution ,no cure just a boring cup of tea for me Sad

.Trouble is no one has heard of this and so my friends just think i am a party pooper !! lol

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