Why Does My Face Turn Red When I Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol can turn your cheeks red when you drink. Red cheeks can make you look like you have consumed more than you actually have.

Features

If you do have a facial reaction to alcohol, your cheeks may flush from a pale red to a very intense red.

Effects

Alcohol makes the blood vessels in your skin dilate. Not only can your cheeks turn red, but heavy drinkers may have a red nose as well.

Considerations

The choice of type of alcohol and strength of a drink can make the red cheeks more or less prominent. Some people are less tolerant of alcohol and more prone to red cheeks.

Prevention/Solution

Eating food along with the alcohol can help lessen the problem. Limiting the amount of alcohol you consume may help. Learn your personal limits if the reaction bothers you. Avoid alcohol if you consider this a problematic part of drinking.

Time Frame

People react differently and at different rates to alcohol consumption. For some, redness can occur immediately after consuming the first drink. Others may take longer to show red cheeks if they do at all. Not everybody reacts this way.