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Asian Flush / Asian Blush / Asian Glow Community
Discussion and anecdotes about the Asian Flush/Flush/Glow/Red Face (turning red when drinking alcohol), including using H2 blockers (e.g. Tagamet, Pepsid, Zantac) and other products to combat its effects. Hosted by Eric Cheng on http://echeng.com
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Jan 11, 2005: On December 3, 2003, I posted
a message in my web journal about the Asian Blush, which quickly resulted in over 100 very-informative comments. This forum is intended to be an information source for those of us looking for information about why we turn red when we drink alcohol.
April 25, 2006: For now, guests may post new messages. We've gotten some spam, so you now must be registered to post.
NOTE: Please do NOT treat information posted here as medical advice. However, once you've read these forums you'll probably want to get ahold of some Pepcid AC. Please support these forums and
buy pepcid from Amazon.com.
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hi,
what a problem this asian flush is. effects so many people around the world. including myself. anyways from back in the days when i used to research cures for this flush i remember reading things about 'red clover'. i think it had some enzyme in it that might help. also i had the thought of taking liver extract. not sure if any of these will help. as never got around to testing them. i dont really drink much now. and have accepted the fact that i cant drink. after 8 yrs of trouble with it. the zantac thing is good and does help. but a combo with something else more natural to make it a more enjoyable experience could be beneficial. This site is great for us sufferers. not many people know what the flush is like for us. lets hope a real cure may someday be widely available.
RedFace01 wrote:I just found this forum tonight and wanted to share and see if anyone could help me....
I'm a 23 year old female with no asian decent at all (German, Irish and Spanish). I seem to be the only one out of my family who experiences this frustrating flushing issue. I developed this a few years ago. It had NEVER happened to be before that. Like some of you it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes I go out and drink cocktails or beer and I'm completely fine (I prefer vodka and diet coke). Just last month I was at a friend's bachelorette party at a bunch of wineries which started at 11am and was terrified (because wine seems to induce it the most with me). To my surprise I only got a little blotchy on my jaw line and that's it.
Not only this but it seems there are certain things I (think I) can do to prevent it (not full proof but it's the only thing I've found thus far that helps, haven't tried the Pepcid or Zantac thing yet)
-Being in a very cool environment, it seems hot places or direct sunlight bring it on even worse/quicker
-working out a few hours before I drink
-staying away from wine
For awhile I thought it had something to do with my body temperature because I seem to flush on my face/neck/chest when I workout or am in hot environments while drinking (so much for summer bbq's) but then like some of you I get it if I eat something while drinking. (This doesn't work out so well when you go out to dinner with business clients who insist on you drinking). So then I'm either not drinking or not eating.
I'm basically really confused with what is going on. It even happens when I get embarrassed or emotional sometimes (with or without alcohol involved). With the eating thing I thought it might have to do with my blood sugar level?? Not sure why the workout out thing sometimes works, I thought maybe because I'm forcing my body to over heat it gets it all out and then won't come out later when I drink. Again this could all could just sound ridiculous but I'm pretty desperate. My boyfriend thinks I am huge pain because I need like hours notice before we go out due to my silly rituals of working out, eating in advance, planning the location (cool environments), etc. Geez I used to be so carefree and spontaneous!!
It also gets even worse when everyone questions me about being "sooo RED" or asking me whats wrong and insisting I have an allergy to some sort of food. I've had people try to give me asprin. Then due to the attention I get even more embarrassed and the red facial flushing blotches get even worse.
Sometimes it's not my whole face but weird blotches on my cheeks or jawline and other times it's my whole face :( Does anyone think this is "asian flush" or do I have some other issue. I went to my doctor and she tried to give me Propranolol. I took that a couple of times but it really didn't seem to work. I'm certain for a fact the alcohol does have something to do with it the times I get it while drinking because I am sometimes calm at home, not nervous at all, in a great mood, cool environment and then have 1-2 drinks and it comes on.
Any help or advice would be wonderful!!
PS. Also I feel like time of day or whether I'm tired contributes to it too. Sometimes when I drink in the mornings (like BBQ's or brunch) I'm ok. Then like around dinner or when I'm tired I feel like it is almost certain to come on if I have a drink.
Sounds like it could be an allergy to the histamines in wines, or alcohols. i remember reading something about that once. Im sure its quite a common problem, can come out of nowhere. doesnt sound like asian flush. ud no if u had it. its not just redness but like being hit with a truck in the head. also its genetic so ud have it for ur whole life. good luck.
I have been taking pepcid ac for 3 years now. it is somewhat useful. but i will never be able to drink like my mates taking this. i have accepted this fact and often do not drink when going out. a process that has taken 7 years for me to do. its kinda sad to think that having this problem has affected who i am in some way. if i think about it i used to be the life of the party, always up for doing anything, pre drinking years. then started drinking and felt i had to shy away from situations. Dont no if im alone here, but i developed social anxiety from this. To me, i can see this being quite a common effect of this disorder. Due to the feelings of being different and not being able to join in.
Really just putting it out there that there may be other effects of having this disorder that may not seem so apparent. My adult life has definately been different to what i wouldve imagined.
Also, i dont no how pepcid works but, not sure if anyone does, but they should because it doesnt just block the redness. when taking pepcid. i can actually get drunk. the alcohol is being processed in a different manner. anyone agree?
pepcid is not a cure for this. nevermind taking huge amounts over the daily prescribed dose. It only works somewhat. I still feel uncomfortable drinking. like its not meant to be.
More research needs to be done on countering acetaldehyde build up in the body, i think that is the main problem. So any students out there, there you go. And finding out how pepcid ac works.
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