If one drink leaves your face bright red, your heart racing, or your stomach queasy — it’s not just bad luck. You could be dealing with alcohol intolerance, a genetic condition that affects how your body processes alcohol.

It’s more common than you think — research suggests around 7% of people show signs of alcohol intolerance (Cleveland Clinic). But for some, the symptoms can be more than uncomfortable — they can signal your body is genuinely struggling to detoxify alcohol.

What Exactly Is Alcohol Intolerance?

Alcohol intolerance isn’t the same as being “a lightweight.” It’s a metabolic reaction, not a behavioural one.
When you drink, your body breaks alcohol down in two steps:

1. Ethanol → Acetaldehyde (a toxic compound)
2. Acetaldehyde → Acetate (harmless and easily excreted)

The second step depends on an enzyme called ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2).
For people with ALDH2 deficiency, this enzyme doesn’t work efficiently — meaning acetaldehyde builds up in the bloodstream instead of being neutralised.

That buildup causes the tell-tale symptoms of alcohol intolerance:

• Facial flushing or redness
• Red, itchy skin
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea or dizziness
• Runny nose or nasal congestion

And it’s not just uncomfortable — acetaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic, meaning repeated exposure can increase long-term health risks.

Why the “Asian Flush” Happens

That sudden, tomato-red face? It’s your body trying to cope.
When acetaldehyde levels rise, your body releases histamines and dilates blood vessels under the skin — hence the flush.

Your metabolism speeds up to clear the toxin, often leading to warmth, nausea, or that “I need to lie down” feeling.

For people with ALDH2 deficiency, studies show acetaldehyde levels can reach up to six times higher than in those who metabolise alcohol normally.

This doesn’t just explain the redness — it’s also why long-term heavy drinking in ALDH2-deficient individuals has been linked to higher rates of esophageal cancer (PLOS Medicine).

Managing Alcohol Intolerance Safely

The good news? There are ways to help your body handle alcohol more comfortably — without ignoring the science.

Here’s what helps:

• Support your liver enzymes with nutrients that assist alcohol metabolism
• Reduce oxidative stress using antioxidants
• Stay hydrated before, during, and after drinking
• Drink consciously, not excessively

And for an extra layer of support — there’s iBlush.

How iBlush Helps

The iBlush Patch, Tablets, and Gels were designed specifically to help people who experience alcohol intolerance or flush reactions.

Each formula delivers antioxidants, vitamins, and enzyme cofactors that help:

• Support healthy ALDH2 activity
• Neutralise acetaldehyde faster
• Ease redness, nausea, and discomfort

In simple terms: iBlush helps your body do what it’s meant to — process alcohol efficiently. So instead of fighting your biology, you’re giving it a hand.

Because drinking should be enjoyable — not uncomfortable.

P.S. We did the research so you don't have to:

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol Flush Reaction – Does Drinking Alcohol Make Your Face Red? National Institutes of Health. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-flush-reaction-does-drinking-alcohol-make-your-face-red
   
2. Crabb DW, Matsumoto M, Chang D, You M. Overview of the Role of Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase and Their Variants in the Metabolism of Alcohol. Alcohol Research & Health. Vol. 29, No. 4, 2006. https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh294/292-298.htm
3. Cleveland Clinic. Alcohol Intolerance: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17659-alcohol-intolerance
4. Brooks PJ et al. The Alcohol Flushing Response: An Unrecognized Risk Factor for Esophageal Cancer from Alcohol Consumption. PLOS Medicine, 2009. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000050