Family Allergy Asthma & Sinus Care Do you sneeze when you sip that fine red wine? Wine allergy?
Allergens can come from the insects (yes, insects!) which have inadvertently contaminated the wine crush [1]. Allergic reactions have also been described for other compounds present in wine such as ethanol, acetaldehyde, tannins and acetic acid. However, it’s possible that alcohol may cause allergy-like symptoms, known as non-allergy rhinitis. People who suffer from seasonal allergies may be likely to also respond to non-allergenic triggers for rhinitis (a stuffy nose and sneezing). In addition, women reported greater incidences of nasal symptoms after consuming alcohol.
What causes a vinegar allergy?
- Some people may be intolerant of acetic acid, although this is not very common (7, 30).
- Thaumatin and thaumatin-like proteins are haze-forming proteins in wine and accumulate during the ripening of grapes [3].
- They described the case of a 32-year-old man who sneezed uncontrollably three to four times after each meal.
- This is because the allergy may have been caused by an allergen that was specific to the winemaker (e.g. ovalbumin as a fining agent).
- But if you notice a correlation with your wine consumption, then that’s at least a clue.
Treating a minor reaction to wine may involve taking oral antihistamines. These can either be acquired over the counter or through a prescription from your doctor. People with an allergy to grapes or grape products may also have reactions to other foods. Investigators found that 83 percent of respondents reported that their symptoms developed after consumption of red wine. White wine was the next most prevalent, with 31 percent reporting it as a symptom trigger. It’s important to distinguish between a wine allergy and alcohol intolerance.
How to treat a wine allergy
Wine allergies cause respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing in some people, which can be caused by sulfite reactions. In some cases, skin reactions, such as hives or rashes, are also present. Individuals may also experience a variety of symptoms, such as chest congestion, skin irritation, and digestive upset. If you experience any of these symptoms after drinking wine, it is critical that you consult a doctor. Alcohol intolerance is most often due to genetic conditions and sensitivity to histamine and sulfites in alcoholic beverages. Yes, a small number of people suffer from sulfite intolerance, but these are not the symptoms most people complain about when they say they are intolerant to wine.
What Red Wine Does to Your Allergies
If you have an alcohol allergy, your immune system over-reacts to alcohol. If you have alcohol intolerance, your digestive system doesn’t process alcohol properly. You might also react to certain alcoholic beverages if you have a histamine or sulfites intolerance.
How can you treat alcohol allergy?
Histamine is a chemical created in the human body that is also found in various foods and beverages. Most people can metabolize the histamine in wine, beer and other foods, but if you’re intolerant, the histamine in wine will cause adverse reactions. A single glass of wine can cause a person to experience a bad headache, flushed face, and a runny nose as a result of a severe allergic reaction. The symptoms of wine allergy are frequently ignored after drinking a glass of wine. According to allergists, more than 8% of the population believes that drinking alcohol causes allergic reactions. Wines are fortified with sulfur in order to prevent oxidation, thus reducing the speed at which vinegar can degrade them.
At Healthgrades, our Editorial Team works hard to develop complete, objective and meaningful health information to help people choose the right doctor, right hospital and right care. Our writers include physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses with firsthand clinical experience. All condition, treatment and wellness content is medically reviewed by at least one medical professional ensuring the most accurate information possible. A minor allergic reaction can occur when alcohol byproducts accumulate to levels high enough to cause a reaction if they are not broken down quickly enough. Alcohol contains histamine, a compound that causes an allergic reaction in both humans and animals, which is why alcohol can make sneezing and congestion worse.
Caffeine Sensitivity & Itching Skin
- You can also get allergy testing to check whether you have a true allergy to alcohol.
- However, it can still cause allergy-like symptoms in some individuals.
- They’re present in higher amounts in certain types of alcohol, like red wine, than others.
- Since even tiny amounts of merlot may trigger such a reaction, blended wines containing a combination of grapes need to be avoided.
However, those with a salicylate sensitivity could experience allergy symptoms after consuming too much of these compounds (3). If you want to avoid a wine hangover, stick to clear drinks like vodka, which contain almost no congeners. If you’d rather not break up with wine, swapping red for white wine can help, since white wine has lower concentrations of these chemicals.
In rare cases, pain after drinking alcohol might be a sign that you have Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you have a true alcohol allergy, even small amounts of alcohol can cause symptoms. Some people experience flushing, headaches, and nausea shortly after can wine make you sneeze drinking alcohol. If you’ve ever had an alcoholic drink only to find your nose running and your stomach roiling, you may have an alcohol intolerance. Or you may have an alcohol allergy, a stronger reaction that involves the immune system.