Is it normal for a person who started drinking to become red and itch all over after drinking alcohol?

Question

is this an allergy problem or will i become use to the alcohol later and no longer itch?

Answer 1

I won't say that it's "normal", but I will say it does happen. More often than not, however, the cause of the allergic reaction is not the alcohol itself, but one more more additives in the alcohol such as brewers yeast, corn, eggs, pesticides, etc. (see link below).

I actually had this same reaction myself when I first started drinking, but I guess I grew immune to it, or switched to alternative drinking options (hard to remember....about 10 years ago). Now, I no longer have any allergic reaction to alcohol of any kind. I would suggest trying different types of beverages, i.e. if you're drinking liquor, try switching to beer or wine. Or perhaps a different type of liquor (i.e. switching from gin to rum). Then, take notes so you don't forget which types of alcohol elicit the most negative effects on your body.

Finally, if drinking is not that important to you, and/or you can't figure out how to diminish the rash, simply give drinking a nip in the bud. But whatever you decide (sorry for the unsolicited advice), let's all make an effort to never drink and get behind the wheel. It's simply not worth it.

Best of luck my friend, and once you get it handled, knock down a margarita for me!

Ciao,
Fitz

check out this link out for more information http://allergies.about.com/cs/alcohol/a/aa043001a.htm

Answer 2

Alcohol reacts different with each person. Everyone will become very warm and will have some change in the tint of the skin. You may be reacting to that. It also depends on the kind of alcohol that you are drinking. I personally am allergic to beer and wine. When I drink it I start out by getting extremely warm, red--after a while this goes away and then I get pain through my chest and arms (elbows ache, arms ache, chest hurts) this usually lasts me at least an entire day--not comfortable. Some of this may be a reaction to how it is brewed or the fermentation process and in other people it is because companies add things such as sulfates to it to help preserve it longer. A lot of people are allergic to sulfates (especially if you have red hair--odd, but true). So, you may be having an allergic reaction OR one that is normal for you. Maybe try drinking something completely different and see what happens.

Answer 3

No, not normal. Are you sure the allergic reaction is to the alcohol? Have you eaten or been around anything unusual? My cousin is allergic to alcohol. She turns red and itches all over too. She can't drink any alcohol. She tried different kinds and the same thing happened. Some made it worse that others.

Answer 4

It sounds like an allergy. You probably can't drink whatever type of alcohol you are drinking. You might try something else. Some people are allergic to one type and not necessarily all types. I know people who have trouble with red wine, but not white. If you are drinking beer it could be the hops. Do you have food allergies, perhaps corn etc?

Answer 5

No it's not normal. Take some benedryl. It also depends. Is it with any kind of alcohol or with just a specific alcoholic beverage? You could simply be allergic to a single ingredient that may not be present in other types of alcohol. If it's with any kind of alcohol, you should avoid drinking at all because you could have a dangerous allergic reaction called anaphylaxis where your throat would swell closed and you could choke to death without immediate medical intervention.

Answer 6

This happens to my husband and a few of his siblings who are allergic to alcohol. And it is not caused by excessive drinking (as BTrix said). My husband barely drinks at all and all he has to do is drink half of a bottle of beer and he is red as a lobster and itching all over. He has a similar problem with aspirin so he avoids them both. He doesn't have a problem with the low levels of alcohol in non-alcoholic beers such as O'Doul's.

Answer 7

I don't itch all over when I drink alcohol, but sometimes when I drink beer my neck & chest get all splotchy red. I figure it's some sort of allergic reaction...but be careful since you (or whoever the "person" is you speak of) itch too!

Answer 8

Could you be a type 2 diabetic and not know it?

Also, alchohol is a drying agent, and the indoor weather is drying.

Yet, I have a feeling it's not that simple.

So, I would go to the doctor, tell him everything you have just told us, and get yourself and nice good, check-up to clear you're mind.

Nothing like having peace of mind, and knowing you are safe.

So it's probably not worth it to drink anymore, at least until you know.

There is a great section here on Answers about non-alchoholic beverages, and they probably have good Holiday drink ideas.

In the meantime, how about, Get High on life! Or possibly try Zen meditation. It can be very healing if you try it and it works for ya.

Answer 9

Yikes!! Sounds like a horrible allergy problem to me. You could try taking an antihistimine before you drink and see if that helps. Or you could experiment with different types of alcohol like beer, wine or hard liquor.

You might have to give up drinking altogether though.

Answer 10

Sorry, if this is your first time drinking, you are probably allerigic. However, dont give up! Where you drinking wine? That is usually the most common allergy. Try beer or liquor. See if it gives you the same results. Otherwise you may only be able to consume 2 drinks or so.