The Curse of the Asian Glow

By on July 29, 2010 • Topics: Current Affairs,Health

Hello, my name is Jennie Le, and I suffer from acetaldehyde accumulation caused by a missense polymorphism that encodes the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2).1 Essentially, my body does not have the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, resulting in an allergic reaction to alcoholic beverages.

Due to this condition known as alcohol flush reaction, which some of you may refer to as Asian Flush or Asian Glow, my summer tan turns into a blinding glow all over my body. My face, stomach, and thighs turn bright red, presenting my embarrassing allergic reaction for all partygoers to see. Nausea and dizziness as well as change in color caused by dilation of capillaries present itself as soon as I finish my first drink.

As a result of my explosive redness, I am embarrassed at happy hours and brunches that serve mimosas, making it difficult to keep up with my non-Asian friends when they go out. The sun is definitely not my friend since it exposes and heightens my ALDH2 deficiency for the public to see.

Take a look at the picture below, taken 10 minutes after brunch last Sunday. You have to admit; the sight isn’t pretty.

Heartburn medicine such as Zantac and Pepcid AC are have been found to reduce Asian Glow if taken 30 to 60 minutes prior to drinking alcoholic beverages.2 However, there is only anecdotal evidence since no research or studies have proved the credibility of this notion.

Fortunately, the discomfort of drinking means the decrease in likelihood that alcoholism will occur among Asian Glowers such as myself. Disulfiram is a drug for the treatment of alcoholism, which inhibits ALDH2, similar to the cause of Asian Glow; hence the connection of decreased alcoholism. 3

Currently, there is no cure to Asian Glow. I would suggest telling people you are sun-burnt, just sprinted to your current location, or hang out with friends who turn redder than you do.

The Author: Jennie Le

Jennie Le is an alumna of UC Berkeley with degrees in Environmental Economics & Policy and Theater & Performance Studies. She is passionate about economic development and the arts in education.

  • Keith Sataya

    This article is pretty… wacky and useless. Every drinkers know about Asian Glow. It would be more interesting and useful if you could spend your time writing about Vietnam and its people. Thank you for wasting my time and your time taking your own “constipation” photo.

    - Keith

    • Jennie Le

      I appreciate your thoughts. It may seem obvious that everyone knows about Asian Glow, but the fact is many might not. I wouldn’t have written this article if I hadn’t been asked many times, “Are you okay? Dude you’re turning so red. Wtf.”

      Although many people know that Asian Glow exists, many people don’t understand the science behind it, which is the purpose of this article. Asian Glow occurs among a lot of Vietnamese people, from Vietnamese-Americans to Vietnamese people in Vietnam, therefore it is pertaining to Vietnam and its people. It many not be a social or economic issue, and it may not be relevant in your eyes, but it is science, which I find important.

      Asian Glow is in the title. I even put a picture of my glowing Asian, and I guess constipated, face so that it’s clear what the article is about. You can always choose to press the back button :)

  • Anonymous

    I thought this was a witty, cleverly portrayed description of a common Asian phenomenon. I don’t believe it was meant to inform– it was meant to entertain. And entertained I was :)

    Keith, since you seem to have a good idea of what VTP readers want, I suggest you submit your own article. I hope that the commentators show you more kindness than you have shown to this “wacky,” “useless, time-wasting article.

  • New Zealand

    This sucks and I know exactly how you feel, taking zantac and heartburn medicines an hour before works perfectly. However your body eventually gets use to it and you end up having to take more and more.

    Worse still its just masking the problem allowing nasty alcohol bi-products to float around your body.

    I’m constantly searching the net for information but cant find anything that mention’s a cure or treatment.
    The best I can come up with at the moment is to give drinking up for maybe a year (give or take) to allow my body to build up that enzyme which is hopefully down on numbers rather than non existent……

  • David Regenold

    Someone alerted me to the link below today that suggests Asian Glow may indicate increased susceptibility to esophageal cancer.

    http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/28/5720595-asian-flush-red-flag-for-risk-of-cancer

    • Jennie Le

      How interesting! That’s the first time I’ve heard of this research. Thanks for the link and the update.