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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Reaction to red wine

16 replies

belgo · 06/12/2009 11:17

I drank one sip of red wine yesterday, and immediately my face started to turn bright red and felt burning hot. After about half an hour it started to die down, but my dh was quite concerned by it; I was just embarrassed (probably turning me even more red).

I've previously gone red drinking some wines, and I very rarely drink, but this was quite a dramatic and fast reaction.

I'm not allergic to anything else.

Anyone had this experience?

OP posts:

Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 13:19

Bump. What a great time of year to be allergic to alcohol!

OP posts:

misdee · 06/12/2009 13:29

i always flush red and hot cheeks when drinking alcohol. its not very flattering. hence i dont drink very often.

Goldberry · 06/12/2009 13:31

Poor you, Belgo. I have been allergic to red wine since having dd 4 years ago. It gives me kind of an acid reflux thing, which often makes me sick. This happens even if I have red wine cooked in food. Since having my second baby, most other alcoholic drink give usually give me the symptoms you're describing, which I believe is known as 'flushing'. It's quite common to go a little red in the face after alcohol, but I go uncomfortably hot and red. At first I was very worried by this as I thought it had something to do with my blood pressure (which has been raised since late pregnancy with ds - now 19 months old), and so I gave up alcohol altogether. However, I've now come to the conclusion it is unrelated. I now find I can get away with the occasional drink (preferably not wine though) as long as I have eaten beforehand. It also seems to help if I drink water along with my drink. It's quite annoying, especially at this time of year, but I used to drink quite a lot when I was younger, so I figure I've had my fair share!

Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 14:04

I had eaten beforehand (a large dish of speghetti bolognese), and it was an immediate reaction after just one sip of the wine, and it was all over my face, hot and itchy, very much like an allergic reaction rather then just flushing which I've always had.

It was cheap wine at a Scouts event (this is Belgium, alcohol gets served anywhere!) and I assume it's something in the actual wine because I drank some more expensive Cava last night and I didn't flush at all.

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Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 14:05

My arms got a bit itchy too and red too.

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MegBusset · 06/12/2009 14:09

I have had an allergic reaction to red wine -- came up in head-to-foot hives which lasted about three days.

It was after drinking a Californian red -- apparently these can be higher in sulphites than other wines as the US has higher levels allowed in wine. I have avoided American wines since then and luckily haven't had a repeat experience.

Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 14:13

Thanks Meg Busset - I wish I had looked to see what wine it was but I was desperate to get out and hide! It's useful to know what could possibly be the cause. As far as I know I'm not allergic to anything. Red peppers and chili give me tummy ache but I don't think that's unusual.

Even my dh who is usually in denial about all things medical nearly had me at the emergency doctor's for an anti histamine!

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Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 14:14

And it's just as well dh noticed the reaction immediately and took the wine away from me because it didn't start burning for about a minute and I would have drank the glass before I had noticed.

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theagedparent · 06/12/2009 14:17

Almost all alcohol brings me out in a red blotchy rash on my face which feels really hot. Every photo of me at christmas features a big red face. Awful.

shakerattleandrollover · 06/12/2009 14:25

I have this sort of reaction sometimes. It starts at my lower neck and spreads up to my cheeks. More recently I've felt a bit wheezy after red wine too, since I had a lung infection a couple of months ago. I LOVE red wine so am mighty miffed about this I can tell you!

Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 14:46

yes I love red wine too! Glad it's not just me!

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shakerattleandrollover · 06/12/2009 15:11

sadly, no

MadameDefarge · 06/12/2009 15:34

You might all want to try moving to organic red wines - less of the nasty stuff that can cause reactions. It works for me!

shakerattleandrollover · 06/12/2009 15:43

oooh didn't think about that.

Original poster

belgo · 06/12/2009 15:45

Thank you I will look out for organic wine, maybe first organic white wine, and stay off red altogether for the time being.

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franke · 06/12/2009 15:49

I had a similar reaction with a white wine recently. At first I assumed the heating was turned up too high, but realised that as it was only me that was bright red, it must be the wine. It came on really quickly too. Since it doesn't happen every time I drink wine, it must be something that had been added to this particular one.

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