Possible allergy to Beer?

Hello,

I just turned 21 recently, and started trying out some beers for the first time.  I had never had beer before I was 21, so this was my first experience with them.

After drinking a beer (this has been tested twice now, days apart) my throat gets quite sore and itchy, and feels swollen.  I do not have this issue with other liquors or malt beers like Smirnoff Ice.  Also, I do not have any other known allergies to food -- though I do have quite terrible allergies to things like pollen, and etc.  I take an Allegra 180 every day of the year, and I feel that it may be preventing a total breakout from this possible reaction?

Or maybe this is just a normal response to your first few beers?

Thanks,
--Matt

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is usually not the alcohol that produces the allergic reaction to the wine or beer. The other ingredients in the alcohol, such as yeast, sulfur dioxide, and additives are often the culprits. Beer may contain a variety of ingredients, including barley, corn, wheat, and rye that may precipitate an allergic reaction.

I feel that it is important to find out the ingredient in beer to which you might be allergic.For that pls consult an allergy specialist and get skin ***** tests and blood tests for allergy done. If the skin testing is negative, it is likely that you are intolerant to wine and beer. If the skin testing is positive, you should avoid food and drink that contain that specific ingredient.

I hope that helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.