Alcohol allergies: Symptoms, treatments, and alcohol intolerance

Your face, neck, and chest will get red and become warm because your body has a harder time metabolizing alcohol than most. With this reaction can include dizziness, heart rate increase, and an overall feeling of discomfort. While these symptoms can also how to tell if you're allergic to alcohol be signs of an intolerance, a true allergy will demonstrate more than one symptom at a more severe rate. If you choose to drink alcohol, it’s important to be aware of these symptoms and their intensity, in order to better monitor your potential allergen. For example, aged cheese, smoked meats, sauerkraut, wine, and beer tend to be high in histamines. It is an inherited disorder, so it was passed down to you from your parents. Or maybe that beloved pint of beer suddenly turns into a stuffed nose? Then you might have developed a sudden intolerance to alcohol. At BeClink, we are proud to service a variety of different clients who choose not to drink alcohol for a variety of reasons. Alcohol intolerance is often mistaken for alcohol allergy, but the former is distinctly different from the latter. An allergy to alcohol occurs when your immune system overreacts to a drink, according to this Healthline report. When it comes to alcohol intolerance, it does not matter how much you consume. All it takes is one drink to make you experience unpleasant reactions.

Alcohol Allergy Risk Factors

People with alcohol intolerance could still consume alcohol, although they will likely experience side effects. While this is a rule of thumb, it’s especially important if you have alcohol intolerance. An alcohol patch test can also be used to diagnose alcohol intolerance. This is done by putting a bit of alcohol on a cotton pad and taping it to your arm. When it’s removed, your Sober Home skin will be checked for signs of swelling, hives, or redness. If you have alcohol intolerance and consume an alcoholic beverage, the most immediate symptom you might notice is your skin going flush and feeling warm. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, having a flushed face immediately after drinking can be a key sign of an alcohol allergy.

• However, if you have an allergy or are intolerant to alcohol, you may get nauseous after just 1-2 drinks.
• If someone believes they have an alcohol allergy or intolerance, they should stop drinking alcoholic drinks and visit their healthcare provider for testing and advice.
• Due again to the reaction from histamines, it's not uncommon to experience swelling when you have an alcohol intolerance.
• The presence of alcohol in other substances may not always be obvious.
• A blood test can measure your immune system’s response to certain foods by seeing if your blood contains antibodies for a specific substance.

The best way to tackle alcohol intolerance is to reduce the amount that you drink, or to stop drinking altogether. If your symptoms are serious, talk to your doctor about a skin prick test or an elimination diet to determine what ingredient is causing your reaction. Armed with the answer, you can adjust your alcohol consumption to avoid the ingredient. The most common symptoms of alcohol intolerance are nasal congestion and skin flushing.

Histamine intolerance

First, it’s important to understand the difference between an alcohol intolerance and a serious alcohol allergy. While both are definitely uncomfortable, an allergy can be potentially lethal. An alcohol allergy means literally any alcohol—not how to tell if you're allergic to alcohol just the ingredients used to make the drinks, but the process which makes them alcohol. When people have alcohol intolerance, it’s because the ALDH2 enzyme is less active or completely inactive — the result of a genetic mutation. This condition is most common in those of Asian descent but can affect anyone, regardless of their ethnic background. This genetic condition will create alcohol intolerance throughout an individual’s entire life. Alcohol intolerance has several side effects when someone drinks, like abdominal pain and nausea. Recognizing the difference between these and an alcohol allergy could save a life. Here are some symptoms that could be a sign of alcohol intolerance or an alcohol allergy. Sulfur dioxide is another closely related chemical that can trigger reactions in some people. If you have an allergy, your immune system over-reacts to contact with a trigger or “allergen.” If you have an alcohol allergy, your immune system treats alcohol as a threat. It responds to alcohol by producing antibodies known as immunoglobulin E . These antibodies trigger an allergic reaction in your body. While there is no way to treat this condition, your healthcare provider can talk with you about ways to reduce the negative effects of alcohol intolerance. Alcohol isn't exactly the most soothing thing to put in your stomach, especially in large quantities. But you shouldn't be wrestling with intense pain just because you had a few beers. What's more, research shows that some people have a gene variant that prevents the body from producing aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol. So if your heart races and your body temperature skyrockets after drinking, your liver may not be able to manage the concentration of alcohol in your body effectively. As with any other allergen, your body reacts to alcohol as a foreign invader and creates antibodies as a response, he explains. These antibodies trigger a release of histamines, causing red and itchy skin. Unfortunately, if the body can't effectively process and break down these histamines, it creates a buildup, which can cause these uncomfortable skin conditions, he explains.