Tag: Skin flushing

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, and despite what some may assume about treating redness, Benadryl does not help rosacea effectively because its root causes are not primarily driven by histamine-induced allergic reactions. The redness and flushing are due to dilated blood vessels, a mechanism not directly targeted by Benadryl.

Clinical trials have shown that a small percentage of individuals using topical tacrolimus experience a flushing reaction after drinking alcohol, with rates reported between 3% and 7%. This primary side effect is why you can't drink alcohol with tacrolimus ointment, as it causes an uncomfortable redness and warmth on the skin, often on the face and at application sites.

While oral tacrolimus, the active ingredient in Protopic, has several well-documented food interactions, there are no known food interactions for the topical ointment form. However, patients using Protopic should be aware that drinking alcohol can cause skin flushing and that certain supplements may pose risks.