Just the other day in my office a patient of mine said to me “how come every time when I go to the bar and have some drinks I get a red-faced when drinking?” I told her that alcohol consumption by people with alcohol allergy is one of the major causes of a red-faced. there are many other signs of alcohol allergy but a red-faced when consuming alcohol is probably the number one symptom.

Very common among Asians is an enzyme deficiency that is present in most people’s bodies that is responsible for the breakdown of the body’s waste products that are produced when consuming alcohol. If this enzyme is lacking or deficient it will cause many of the signs of alcohol allergy including:

1. red-faced when drinking.
2. headache.
3. dizziness.
4. congestion.
5. wheezing or difficulty breathing.
6. alcohol hives which manifest as red patches were blotches on the skin.