How long does Asian Flush last?

That flushed, blotchy red skin and other miserable reactions after drinking are dreadfully familiar to you. You likely ended up here searching ‘how long does red face from alcohol last,’ hoping for some answers to this frustrating condition.

We get it – alcohol intolerance, also known as Asian Flush or Asian Glow, can make what’s meant to be an enjoyable drink with friends into an ordeal of distressing symptoms flaring up when you least expect it.

The good news is, you have more control than you think.

In this article, we’ll explore what really controls that aggravating face and skin redness after drinking, simple lifestyle tweaks to reduce the duration of your reaction, and how scientifically-designed supplements like Asian glow pills can work with your body chemistry to allow you to enjoy social drinking without the aftermath of a lingering, uncomfortable alcohol flush.

Why Does Asian Flush Happen In The First Place?

So, what exactly causes Asian flush? It all comes down to alcohol metabolism and an enzyme called ALDH2. If an individual has an ineffective ALDH2 enzyme - or an ALDH2 deficiency - then they will experience Asian Flush Syndrome.

As you consume alcohol, the body breaks it down into acetaldehyde. In a body without Asian Flush, toxic acetaldehyde will be broken down further until nothing remains. In someone with Asian Flush, this whole process gets interrupted.

The body is unable to properly break down this harmful chemical, which leads to acetaldehyde accumulating in the body and causing negative symptoms. It’s acetaldehyde that causes you to turn red, get a stuffy nose after drinking, experience shortness of breath after drinking alcohol, or any of the other uncomfortable side effects.

If you want to learn more about acetaldehyde, our complete guide on how to remove acetaldehyde from the body naturally is an excellent resource. We also have an article discussing high acetaldehyde foods to avoid when you're deficient in this enzyme.

How Long Does Alcohol Flush Reaction Last?

So, how long does Asian flush last? Unfortunately, the answer isn't one-size-fits-all.

The term “Asian Flush” typically includes all symptoms, but we know that some don’t last as long as others. For instance, your red face from alcohol might reduce an hour after you stop drinking, but your bloodshot eyes or headache might not stop until hours later.

As we said, everyone is different - and thus, the Asian Flush reaction manifests itself differently for everyone. It can depend on how much you’ve eaten that day, the type of alcohol you choose to drink, how much you drink, and how fast you consume it.

However, there are usually a few symptoms that should reduce first, and others that will last longer.

Asian Flush symptoms that typically stop first:

• Red facial flushing (whether that’s your whole face, cheeks, neck, etc)
• Overall feeling of being hot, your skin giving off heat or having a hot face

Asian Flush symptoms that will usually last longer:

• Headaches
• Bloodshot eyes
• Nausea

Who Gets Asian Flush The Worst?

One key factor that dictates how long alcohol flush reaction lasts is ethnicity.

Although more testing needs to be done on Asian Flush and the enzyme deficiency that causes it, we do know that a high proportion of people of East Asian descent experience it. One study reports that one-third of East Asians (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) have Asian Flush.

However, this doesn’t mean that this condition doesn’t impact people of other ethnicities. We know that caucasian Asian flush is a thing, too - white people can suffer even if they don’t realize that it’s Asian Flush. A better name to use is “Alcohol Flush Reaction” because it’s more inclusive of those who are not Asian but still experience this condition.

It will also vary between person-to-person how much alcohol is needed to start a reaction. Usually, simply drinking alcohol will start symptoms. If the individual has a higher tolerance, they may get symptoms after a few drinks. In any case, you’ll probably know the amount of alcohol needed to start a reaction for yourself.

If your symptoms are very severe, it’s important to get medical advice before drinking alcoholic beverages again. It’s especially important to avoid binge drinking with this condition.

Variables that impact how long Asian Flush lasts:

In summary, the question of how long does alcohol flush reaction last does not have a definitive answer. It can take anywhere from under an hour after your last drink to a day or two later. There are a wide array of factors influencing exactly how long your systems will persist after drinking alcohol. These include:

• Age
• Gender
• Weight
• How much you’ve eaten
• How quickly you’re drinking
• What type of alcohol you’re drinking
• How much you’re drinking in a single session
• Whether you are using any Asian Flush prevention products (ex. Asian Flush pills or patches)

Rather than worrying about how long the symptoms of alcohol flush reaction last, let's talk about what you can control...

How Can I Stop Asian Flush?

Now that you know how long alcohol flush reaction lasts, you probably want to learn how to get rid of Asian glow once and for all. And guess what? You don't have to choose to not drink alcohol just to eliminate the symptoms of sudden alcohol intolerance or flushing.

Currently, there is no cure for Asian Flush symptoms. At least not 100%. However, Asian Flush prevention products (like Asian glow patches, pills, and drinks) can definitely reduce your symptoms and their duration.

We also have some DIY Asian Flush Cures you can check out. They won't reduce or eliminate all of your symptoms, but they can help you to have a more enjoyable night out with friends.

The #1 solution, though, is Sunset's Asian Flush Pills. These are proven to be safe and effective at helping you avoid the symptoms of alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance. You can take a pill before you. start to drink alcohol and watch in amazement as you don't end up experiencing the symptoms of alcohol flush reaction that you're used to!

How Long Does Asian Flush Last? Wrapping Things Up

So, how long does Asian flush last? After reading this deep dive on the topic, you should have a better understanding of the timeline for your symptoms of alcohol consumption. Remember - the answer varies from person to person and can even vary from occurrence to occurrence depending on what you drink, how much you drink, what you've eaten, and a whole lot more.

Ultimately, the question "how long does alcohol flush reaction last?" should be replaced with "how can I stop the symptoms of alcohol flush once and for all?".

As you now know, there is one alcohol flush treatment that is proven to help eliminate alcohol flushing syndrome - and that is Sunset's pills. So, head over to our site to learn more about how these can help you prevent alcohol flush reaction the next time you have a few beverages!