Genetic factors, particularly in Asian populations, cause rapid skin flush due to difficulty breaking down acetaldehyde from alcohol metabolism.

“in patients who cannot or people who cannot tolerate alcohol um and there are genetics in Asian populations and Southeast Asians that have a difficulty in breaking down acetal dhide that is a a toxin that shows up in the skin and makes the skin vasodilate as a result so that common College term that we used to hear you know the flush or the glow or you know incorrectly called the Asian glow is as a result of the inability to break down alcohol and that usually you see immediately people get a very bright red uh flush in their skin because of the acetal theide buildup in the skin”