Quantification of skin erythema response to topical alcohol in alcohol‐intolerant East Asians

Background/Purpose Severe alcohol intolerance characterized by flushing, headache, nausea, and tachycardia even after very modest oral alcohol consumption, is common among East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans) and has been associated with the accumulation of acetaldehyde resulting from genetic polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase ( ALDH ). These individuals also display erythema of the skin in response to exposure to topical alcohol. We...