I was just curious to see if this has happened to anyone else....since giving birth to my second little guy this past November I have been having strange reactions to alcohol. If I take even a sip of wine or beer my face immediately begins to burn and turn bright red. It is actually very painful. It usually lasts close to an hour or so. It seems to me that I am having some sort of alergic reaction...sound right? I am nursing my little guy so it's not like I have been trying to consume large quantities of alcohol...even a sip will do it. Has anyone had this happen?
Perhaps you are getting Roseasha (not the correct spelling). This is a reddening of the skin from sun, cold, & alcohol. There are other triggers too. Just look it up on Webmd.com.
I never had this, but I guess you know the solution -- you can drink something else. :-) Whenever I drink, my cheeks turn bright red -- it's because the alcohol opens the blood vessels -- this happens to me whenever I exercise, too, which was a constant source of embarrassment for me growing up.
In my 20's I finally just started exercising and enjoying the exercise, even if I did turn brite red in the process ! the more often I exercise, however, the less it happens. I won't suggest you drink more or more often to reduce the redness, but I suspect it's just that the capillaries are opening up, and you are getting flushed. I doubt it's a problem -- just an embarassement. So, it's your choice: drink and face the mirror, or drink juice and not worry about it.
Yes... Yes... Yes...
My son is now 21/2 and it doesn't seem to go away or get better. I don't know why but a lot of people have told me that it happens. I think your body chemistry changes when you have kids.. But I have realized its less of a reaction with beer than with wine or spirits. I think it may have something to do with sulfates. This actually just happened to me REALLY bad last night. I had some Rose (wine) and not only did my cheek get red and hot, but I actually had a welt.
It's probably nothing this serious, but I just read this article in the NYTimes "Drinkers’ Red Face May Signal Cancer Risk" & wanted to forward it just incase - here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/health/research/21alcoh...
It sounds like rosacea; if it really bothers you, you can see a dermatologist. If it's not that big a deal, there are 'redness relief' products available at the drugstore from Eucerin that are really nice.
Yes, reactions to alcohol after birth and during nursing are normal. It will probably pass. It's actually nature's warning not to drink too much. Don't forget (you probably already know), wait at least 2 hours after drinking ANY alcohol to nurse, or you will be passing alcohol through the baby's liver. Stick to one glass of wine or beer a day and drink three times as much water at the same time. I've heard to wait at least 3 months for any alcohol even with these precautions if you're nursing, but I see your baby is older. Good luck, I hope this passes soon!
OH YA- Used to enjoy an occasional beer or gin & tonic...not any more!!! I can drink wine but anything else makes me feel funny, I get flushed o simply just do not like the taste anymore! Oh well...so worth it!!!
I have the same thing since having my son 18 months ago. It gets red, welted and is very hot to the touch. It extends down my face to my neck and chest. I found it is the worse with wine coolers. Beer makes my face red but not welted. I avoid it as much as possible. I hope maybe someone can provide some insight. Great question though!!
My friend has the same problem, she is allergic to the sulfites in the alcohol. I believe they offer sulfite free wines and things like that.
