If you’re unsure whether you have an allergy or intolerance, consult with your healthcare provider. Alcohol intolerance means it’s difficult for your body to break down (metabolize) alcohol. This allows toxins to build up, resulting in facial flushing and other alcohol intolerance symptoms. The symptoms of histamine intolerance are similar to an allergic reaction.

Prevention

• A person’s tolerance may also change over time due to a decline in body mass in older adults.
• Alcohol intolerance is an immediate unpleasant reaction to consuming alcohol.
• A histamine is a chemical that the body releases in response to allergy, inflammation, or injury.
• More research is needed to understand its causes and treatment options.

True alcohol allergy is thought to be rare, while alcohol intolerance is more common. Some people may incorrectly assume they are allergic to alcohol, when in fact they are actually reacting to other components of alcoholic drinks. Taking Pepcid before drinking is a popular strategy for preventing the alcohol flush reaction.

Management and Treatment

Alcohol flushing syndrome what causes alcohol intolerance is a major sign of alcohol intolerance. Your face, neck and chest become warm and pink or red right after you drink alcohol. But the hallmark symptom of alcohol intolerance is flushing of the skin of the chest, neck and face. Alcohol intolerance and alcohol allergy may share certain symptoms, but they are two different conditions.

Risk factors

• It is important to distinguish between alcohol allergy and alcohol intolerance, as the two terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably.
• One theory suggests that the virus causing COVID-19 acts as a severe stressor, possibly affecting a part of the brain called the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).
• If you have other allergies, you are more likely to have an allergy to alcohol, according to research from Switzerland.
• Some evidence suggests that post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome may share characteristics with ME/CFS, a condition where approximately 4 out of 5 people exhibit alcohol intolerance.

For anyone who drinks alcohol, staying hydrated can help reduce the negative effects. The main treatment of both conditions is avoiding alcohol or the ingredients that trigger the allergy. For allergic reactions, taking an antihistamine like Benadryl for a mild to moderate reaction can help.

Currently, there is no cure for alcohol intolerance, but understanding and managing the condition can significantly reduce its impact. If alcohol intolerance is caused by something else, such as the use of a medication, then addressing the underlying cause may eliminate alcohol intolerance. Cow’s milk protein allergy is one of the most common food allergies seen in children. Many children who have been allergic to cow’s milk protein become tolerant to it by the time they are 5 years old. Dr Fox recommends avoiding alcohol to treat alcohol intolerance.