Why Do Some Asians Get 'Asian Glow'?

Why Do Some Asians Get 'Asian Glow'?

Alcohol is a social lubricant, easing anxiety and guaranteeing fun. But for some, as they are taking sips, there’s only one thought plaguing: what're their faces like right now?

If your face goes red when drinking alcohol, if you feel a burning, itching rash-like discomfort spreading across your cheeks, well, you're not alone in this.

The Asian Glow...

Actually, about 40% Chinese, Japanese and Korean experience facial flushing when drinking beer, wine or spirits. It's due to an inherited deficiency in one of the enzymes involved in the breakdown of alcohol: aldehyde dehydrogenase. 

Specifically, it’s caused by a genetic mutation that reduces the ability to metabolise alcohol.

This type of reaction is very rare, but not unknown, in other ethnic groups. And now this is known as the Asian flush, or Asian glow.

Experiencing the infamous glow can be isolating in several ways.

“After just downing half a glass, some already feel their headaches coming. Their heart may be beating faster,” says Saw Hoon Lim, a senior lecturer in the department of biochemistry and pharmacology at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

“You feel and look a bit hungover or drunk, and that might be embarrassing to some extent.”

Though it can get quite embarrassing sometimes, good news is that because of aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, alcoholism and alcohol-related cancers are much less prevalent among these people. This is because people feel so bad after drinking alcohol, they tend to drink very little, if at all.

Lim, who experiences facial flushing herself, says it’s important to reframe how we view Asian flush – less as a sign of weakness and more as a “blessing in disguise”.

“It’s your body’s way of telling you that you’re taking in something a little dangerous. Something that’s not good for your body.”

What can you do about it?

There is no known cure for this genetic mutation. The best thing we can do is to listen to our bodies – and research – and stop drinking.

It is regularly reported in the media and online that “antihistamines” prevent “Asian flush”. Pepcid, an antihistamine typically used for heartburn relief, is one common (albeit temporary) remedy to reduce inflammation.

There’s even a market for “glow patches”, which claim to transfer antioxidants and vitamins into the bloodstream.

However, actually, neither of these got approved by drug administration to aid drinking, and they might mask the symptoms that you're already intolerant and increase the risk of overdrinking.

So, if you have aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, it’s better to avoid alcohol altogether. It doesn't mean that you're marginising yourself. There's nothing wrong or shameful about alcohol intolerance, just like people can say 'I can't eat dairy products'!

Take steady and slow sips if you do drink once in a while!

Source: The Conversation, South China Morning Post

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