Facial Flushing: Should You Worry If Your Face Turns Red When You Drink?
When you drink red wine, does your face mirror that ruby glow? Or do your cheeks redden only when you’re drinking cocktails? “Your face may flush from alcohol for two reasons: because of an enzyme deficiency or because of rosacea. Both are tied to your ethnicity,” explains dermatologist Alok Vij, MD. Enzyme deficiency. Many Asian populations have a deficiency in alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks alcohol down. “Alcohol is toxic to cells, and when it gets into the c