Why Do My Cheeks Get Red When I Drink

“Drinking beer, wine or any other alcoholic beverage can make you feel great – it’s the stuff that makes life worth living after all! But there are some downsides too, like red cheeks and flushing skin. You might not notice this when you’re drinking with friends but when you look in the mirror later on, you’ll probably be surprised at how much redness you see.
This may sound strange because most people only get flushed when they drink heavily, but in fact, we’ve all got genes that determine whether our faces turn red when we consume alcohol. The good news is that you don’t have to live with annoying facial flushes if you know what causes them so you can avoid them entirely.
Alcoholic beverages contain chemicals called acetaldehyde which get converted into acetic acid by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This ADH enzyme comes from two different sources – one source is found in your liver and the other in your stomach. If you’re lucky enough to inherit both types of enzymes then you won’t experience any issues with facial flushing. However, if you’re missing out on either type, then you will end up with a face full of angry red spots.
Reduced-flushers are those who lack the ability for their body to convert the toxic chemical acetaldehyde into acetic acid. These people suffer from facial flushing when consuming alcohol. As such, drinkers who don’t produce enough ADH in their bodies are said to “”be reduced”” as opposed to non-drinkers who are considered “”unreduced””.
So why do these reactions happen? Why does our body react to something that seems like a harmless substance? Well, here’s the thing about the ADH enzyme… its job is to break down toxins and harmful substances in the blood stream. So when someone has low levels of this enzyme, it means that there’s a high amount of toxins circulating around inside their system. And guess what kind of toxin is circulating through their bloodstream? That’s right, it’s acetaldehyde which is responsible for the typical facial flushing experienced by drinkers.
When you drink alcohol, your body releases dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that signals pleasure. Acetaldehyde is produced during the conversion process and acts upon the brain’s reward center to trigger feelings of euphoria. In addition, it also triggers the release of norepinephrine which is another neurotransmitter that promotes increased heart rate, dilates blood vessels, and increases alertness.
For the majority of us, these effects are welcome but if you’re unlucky enough to possess a mutation in one particular gene, then you could lose the ability to enjoy these effects. One of these genes is known as ALDH2.
ALDH2 plays a vital role in breaking down acetaldehyde molecules in order to prevent damage to certain tissues in your body. It was discovered back in 1998 and is present in over 80 percent of Asian populations while roughly 50 percent of European populations carry mutations in it.
However, Westerners aren’t completely immune to this condition; many of them also develop similar symptoms due to their inability to break down acetaldehyde. For example, people who are lactose intolerant often find themselves dealing with bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and more.
Now that you understand the basics of why you get flustered when you drink, let’s take a look at the specific genetic conditions that lead to facial flushing reactions. According to research published in 2015, around 1 in 20 Americans suffers from this problem.
It should come as no surprise that drinkers with poor digestion are more likely to experience facial flushing than those without digestive problems. After all, what better way to relieve yourself of your food’s indigestion than to simply drink it away? The same goes for smokers who inhale nicotine directly into their lungs rather than allowing it pass through their digestive tract first.
Smokers also tend to sweat more than non-smokers, which is why you might sometimes see them wipe their forehead with a handkerchief instead of a tissue. Smokers are also prone to developing hives and acne on their face whereas non-smokers usually keep their pores cleaner.
Aside from genetic factors, facial flushing can also occur due to environmental reasons. Alcohol consumption is just one example. Drinking alcohol can raise your blood sugar level thereby causing your pancreas to secrete more insulin. Since your cells use insulin to absorb glucose, excess amounts of it can throw off your metabolism and contribute to weight gain.
In addition, alcohol is also broken down by esterases found in your saliva. Your salivary glands produce extra amounts of saliva when you drink alcohol, thus increasing the likelihood of facial flushing.
If you want to learn more about how alcohol affects your health, check out this interactive infographic.
Although facial flushing isn’t painful, it can still affect your quality of life. Many sufferers find that they cannot socialize as frequently as they would like due to embarrassment. Some even resort to wearing sunglasses whenever they go out in public to hide the redness.
Luckily there are ways to reduce the severity of facial flushing. First, try to limit your intake of alcohol to moderate amounts. Avoiding alcohol altogether is not recommended as it can result in withdrawal symptoms. Aside from limiting your alcohol exposure, you can also take supplements designed to help neutralize acetaldehyde before it gets to your liver.
These supplements include Vitamin B3, NAC, and grape seed extract. They work by slowing down the production of acetaldehyde and preventing it from getting absorbed into your bloodstream.
Lastly, you should always consult a doctor before taking any dietary supplement since adverse side effects can arise from combining multiple medications.
If you’d like to learn more about facial flushing, then read up on the science behind it. A study published in 2014 showed that facial flushing occurs within five minutes of drinking alcohol.
As mentioned earlier, facial flushing is caused by a deficiency in the production of ADH in your body. If you don’t produce enough ADH, then you won’t be able to metabolize ethanol properly. This results in higher levels of toxic substances circulating around your entire body including your blood, muscles, liver, kidneys, and brain.
Since your liver produces ADH, it becomes damaged when you drink excessive quantities of alcohol. This leads to fatty deposits forming around the organ which eventually become scar tissue. Over time, these scars can block important ducts and channels used to transport nutrients throughout your body.
Eventually, your liver can begin to shut down and stop producing new proteins needed to function normally. The reason why is because of the high amount of toxins your liver needs to filter each day. So if you continue to abuse alcohol, your liver will fail sooner or later.
On a positive note, there are currently several FDA approved drugs available to treat severe cases of alcoholism. Doctors can prescribe these treatments to patients suffering from chronic alcohol dependence. ”