Here’s Why You Sweat When You Drink Alcohol

According to MD Health, there are a few reasons why alcohol might cause an uptick in sweat production. So, there are two primary reasons why you sweat during or after eating. Sweaty armpits and clammy palms are just a few of the places this inconvenient sweat might rear it’s ugly head. Maybe it was just your turn to lose at hangover roulette. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person who’s on TikTok, even if you aren’t.

These symptoms must greatly affect and cause you not to do well in school, work, or relationships. A small amount of alcohol is broken down in your stomach lining, but your liver metabolizes most of it. Most of the alcohol you consume is broken down into byproducts through metabolism within your body.

Alcohol may cause hot flashes while you drink and after you’ve stopped drinking.

In fact, if you notice that you’re sweating while drinking, this is just your body’s reaction to the toxins hitting your system. Some of the receptors in your brain are being affected by the alcohol toxins, and they don’t know how to process your body temperature correctly any longer. This is why you may start to notice the feeling of being hot or sweaty while drinking. Night sweats may also result from alcohol withdrawal or alcohol intolerance. For people who already experience night sweats, including those going through menopause, consuming alcohol can worsen the sweating.

A doctor can provide information and guidance on how to avoid alcohol. People should speak with a doctor to discuss any concerns about their risk of experiencing night sweats. Alcohol-related liver disease also does alcohol make you sweat does not usually cause symptoms until the liver is severely damaged. A person should speak with a doctor if these symptoms do not improve. Without diagnosis and treatment, it could lead to liver complications.

Why is this hangover sweat a problem?

A person should generally see a doctor if they experience consistent new-onset night sweats and get the underlying cause diagnosed. Even if the sweating itself isn’t a major concern, it may signal a bigger issue. Night sweats can have benign causes such as menopause, but also some more serious causes such as underlying malignancy. To fight off a hangover, you should do the opposite of “sweating it out”. Staying well-hydrated will help you get back on track faster and will give your body time to naturally process the alcohol before your next drink. By the time you’re feeling a hangover, most of the alcohol in your system has already been metabolized by your liver and it is no longer possible to sweat it out.

  • To speak to a treatment specialist about nearby rehab centers.
  • Within this essential breaking down process, ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde, an organic compound that is toxic to the body.
  • But often, as mentioned above, you are not actually warmer.
  • Keep in mind, however, that excessive night sweats after alcohol consumption may indicate symptoms of a drinking problem.
  • Alcohol can cause a person’s body to improperly regulate temperature, potentially causing them to sweat even when they’re not especially hot.
  • So, the alcohol causes sweating which results in dehydration, if you’re looking for the classic cause-and-effect explanation.

Also, hot, humid air makes it harder for sweat to evaporate off your body. To combat that rise in blood sugar, your body releases a hormone called insulin. If your insulin levels get too high, it causes something called hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which can cause sweating. You will probably also experience other symptoms like rapid heart rate, tremors, anxiety, vomiting, and if severely dependent, seizures. You may produce more sweat than usual during these hungover workouts. As alcohol accumulates in your blood, your blood vessels enlarge.

MedTerms Medical Dictionary

However, it may be interesting to note that the excessive sweating caused by menopause is considered to be a type of secondary generalized hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis is just a medical term for excessive sweating that is caused by an underlying physiological condition, disease, or medication side effect. It may be beneficial to look into some of the ways that people deal with hyperhidrosis when learning how to cope with persistent menopause and sweating symptoms. Companies like Carpe, make antiperspirant lotions that can reduce sweating production and make you more comfortable.

Do people who drink alcohol sweat more?

Essentially, drinking alcohol increases the amount of sweat the body produces and this is an issue for people who already sweat excessively. Alcohol intolerance can cause a person to sweat more excessively than normal, as can alcohol withdrawal.

Hot drinks and hot or spicy foods can cause sweating after eating –also known as gustatory sweating. They raise your internal temperature, activating your body’s cooling mechanism. Spicy food and hot drinks before bed can cause excessive sweating after eating and/or night sweats. Caffeine stimulates your sweat glands and alcohol widens the blood vessels in your skin, which can also make you sweat more. However, higher levels of alcohol in your body can cause your blood vessels to tighten which can increase your blood pressure and heart rate.