To ask if you have started getting bright red cheeks after drinking alcohol in middle age

56 replies

Mightneedencouraged · 31/03/2026 22:08

Just met some friends for an after work drinks and my cheeks are livid! This definitely never used to happen. How embarrassing.

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sashh · 02/04/2026 12:01

Me, but only with cheaper Italian wine.

herbalteabag · 02/04/2026 12:03

I get it without the alcohol! I assumed it was perimenopause.

MissHoof · 02/04/2026 12:23

Not that I have noticed, but if I drink a lot of prosecco I sometimes develop pimples on my face and chest overnight. I'm early 40s.

Original poster

Mightneedencouraged · 02/04/2026 12:38

landlordhell · 02/04/2026 10:11

Oestrogen drops and makes the processing of alcohol harder and slower so it’s in the system longer and causes effects like flushing etc. It’s a big bloody wake up call to what alcohol actually is- a poison. I still have one or two at the weekend but it’s become less appealing as I’ve looked into it more. I discovered that it was the ceremony of drinking that I like; the pouring , the opening a bottle and I had found0% beers and other non alcoholic but adult drinks hit that spot. Nothing better than sleeping well and waking up clear headed.

Edited

Yeah it's a delicious social lubricant too, though. I hope to God I don't dry up spiritually as well as physically :(

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Original poster

Mightneedencouraged · 02/04/2026 12:39

I don't ever wake up not clear headed tbf

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Additup · 02/04/2026 13:04

My brother used to get this as a teen/young adult but grew out of it. I don't think its an age thing, it's more of a intolerance thing, maybe caused by sulphates?

Sulphates have always given me a really blocked nose even non alcoholic beer because it still contains sulphates.

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