Why do people get rashes and hives after drinking alcohol?

Itching and hives are conditions that many people experience after drinking alcohol. Common symptoms are itchy skin, stinging, burning, red patches, bumps, dull or intense itching, affecting work and life.

The common cause of this condition is the liver - the organ that processes up to 90% of the alcohol in beer and wine. A healthy liver needs 1 hour to metabolize 1 unit of alcohol (equivalent to 3/4 can of beer, 1 glass of wine or 1 cup of 30ml spirits). When drinking a large amount of alcohol, the liver will be overloaded, the alcohol will be metabolized into Acetaldehyde, which is not fully processed, will accumulate, activate immune cells to release mediators, causing itching and hives.

In cases where liver function declines due to age, such as in middle-aged or elderly people or people with liver disease, the liver's ability to metabolize and eliminate toxic substances in alcohol is weaker than normal. Therefore, even if you do not drink too much alcohol, rashes and hives can still occur.

In addition, hives and itching can also be caused by allergies to alcohol or ingredients (wheat, yeast, preservatives, etc.) in beer and wine; the body cannot tolerate beer and wine because it does not have enzymes to break down and metabolize toxic substances; blood vessels are sensitive to alcoholic beverages, etc.

To reduce the itching sensation, you should drink plenty of water to speed up the process of eliminating alcohol from the body. At the same time, applying cold compresses to the red, hives-affected skin helps temporarily relieve the discomfort. However, this is only a temporary solution to help improve the symptoms.

If you want to solve the root cause, reduce the risk of rashes, hives after each drinking session, you should choose the type of alcohol that suits your body, avoid using poor quality alcohol, alcohol of unknown origin. Eat before drinking to slow down the process of alcohol absorption into the body. In particular, there should be a solution to support liver function enhancement, liver detoxification, reduce the impact of alcohol on the liver...

Nowadays, using herbal liver supplements is a trend chosen by many people. To ensure safety and effectiveness, you should prioritize products from reputable brands, whose ingredients contain herbs that have been researched and clinically proven by the world.

You can also refer to some folk remedies such as bathing with star fruit leaves, perilla leaves, using gotu kola... Wash 100g of star fruit leaves, boil them with water to soak and wash the itchy skin area or bathe. Wash 200g of perilla leaves, puree them with 100ml of clean water. Boil the resulting mixture, remove the residue and mix with warm water for bathing. Use 100g of gotu kola leaves, wash them, soak them in diluted salt water for about 20 minutes. Then, crush the gotu kola leaves, add a little salt, stir well and apply this mixture to the allergic skin area.