Did You Know Wine Can Trigger Hives?

Between histamine, sulphites and alcohol itself, wine is one of the most common drink triggers for hives and flushing. Why, and how to find a glass that suits your skin.

The quick version

Wine is a triple threat for reactive skin. It can be high in histamine (especially red), it contains sulphites, and the alcohol itself widens blood vessels. Put those together and it is no surprise wine is one of the most common drinks to bring on flushing, itching or hives, even in people with no other obvious food triggers.

Why it matters

People often assume they must be “allergic to wine”, but true wine allergy is rare. Far more often it is the histamine and sulphites along for the ride. Knowing which is yours changes what you can do about it. See alcohol, flushing and the skin for the detail.

What to do

Notice the pattern: if red wine is much worse than a clear spirit, histamine or sulphites are likely; lower-histamine, lower-sulphite choices and moderation help. Treat any hives with swelling or breathing difficulty as an emergency.

A short video clip on this is coming soon.

Check it against your own list

A free database like Open Food Facts and Fig give broad ingredient information rather than a check against your own skin. A personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save your triggers, such as sulphites, once and scan any product, food, medication or cosmetic, against your ingredient guard list, flagging only yours. Its Reaction Journal lets you tie a flare back to what you drank, a shared Care Circle lets family scan for you, and a Trusted Products list keeps what you have cleared. It is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)