Why people turn red when consuming alcohol

Many people have noticed that after consuming alcohol, some individuals' faces turn bright red. This phenomenon has a scientific explanation and is related to the peculiarities of alcohol metabolism in the body.

Physiology of the process.

When a person drinks alcohol, ethanol enters the liver, where it is processed in two stages:

Ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde - a toxic substance that causes unpleasant hangover symptoms.

Acetaldehyde is converted into acetic acid, which is then eliminated from the body.

These reactions occur under the influence of two enzymes:

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)

Cause of redness

Some people, especially among Asian populations, have a mutation in the ALDH2 gene, which is responsible for aldehyde dehydrogenase function. This mutation makes the enzyme less active or completely non-functional. As a result, acetaldehyde is not properly processed and accumulates in the body.

This causes: skin redness (especially face and neck), increased heart rate, headache, nausea, general feeling of heat.

Hereditary factor

This reaction is often observed in people of East Asian origin (up to 50% of Chinese, Japanese, Koreans have the ALDH2 gene mutation). But it also occurs in representatives of other ethnic groups.

Important point: this is not simply an "allergy"

Although externally it may resemble an allergic reaction, it is essentially an enzymatic intolerance to alcohol, not an immune response.

Health impact

Regular alcohol consumption in the presence of the ALDH2 mutation can be dangerous:

Elevated acetaldehyde levels increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and cancer of other organs.

Even small doses of alcohol can cause serious strain on the body.

What to do if you turn red from alcohol

Limit or completely eliminate alcohol.

Don't treat alcohol as a "harmless entertainment" - your body is clearly indicating that it's struggling.

If symptoms are severe, consult a doctor - you may need liver function diagnostics and genetic testing.