Question: When I shower, and when I drink alcohol (even 3 sips), I get red in the face, knees, and almost hive-like patterns on my legs, but that aren't raised—just warm/hot and large blotches. What could this be a symptom of? I'm not necessarily looking to take any medicine, unless it's a big concern. I just can't figure out why. Also, my showers aren't that hot. I am prone to inflammation and want to get to the root of it. I'm not sure this falls in the asthma/allergy section, but it seemed to fit the best. I'm worried it's an autoimmune problem or something endocrine. • Chronic, low-grade, (seemingly) full-body inflammation (varies day to day), but not related to injury, which is often, extremely warm to the touch and expresses most in hands, feet, joints, and muscles. • Rashes and hives, varied in type, and seemingly unrelated to stimulus (sometimes, with hives, when under stress, lasting up to three or four months). • Hypersensitive: stress, food, perfumes, etc. • Psoriasis, diagnosed as a child (but in remission or misdiagnosed). • Possible continually high histamine level. ALSO I have frequent fungal infections, which, also, expressed in a number of ways— • Persistent-to-chronic (over three months) vaginal yeast infections • Ringworm, on and off since childhood. • Skin fungus, not ringworm, mostly in groin and axillae presenting on and off for last two years. • Dandruff. AND one last strange component: In addition, I have persistent belly fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise in the
way I would expect, and know that this is a leading cause of may health problems. I
have always eaten a very balanced and low-calorie diet and engage in regular exercise.
My persistent belly fat also confuses my personal Pilates instructor. I had a two-hour
glucose tolerance test come back with elevated results, but my A1c1 was well within the
normal range, 4.7. This leads me to questions of— • Insulin resistance •Glucose tolerance versus A1c1. •Thyroid problems — My thyroid has been often tested, with no indication of hypo/hyperthyroidism. Yet, I have an extremely bad family history, with almost every XXXXXXX family member (my seniors) with hypothyroidism. Its obvious enlarged nature and correlating symptoms have been a cause of concern to most every medical practitioner I’ve encountered since toddlerhood. (My Grandma’s was removed because of goiter.) •Cortisol levels. • (and once again) Inflammation.

My question regarding belly fat, which is know to be the most XXXXXXX fat, is why would I be "clinging" to it, when I eat and 80% vegetable diet (with the other 20% whole grains, some indulgences like dark chocolate, and meat) and regularly exercise—cardio and resistance/Pilates training. I feel like it's a medical problem. Not a lifestyle one. I'm not interested in plastic surgery, one because of the expense and also because I'd like to understand and combat the root cause, not cover/cut away the evidence of a problem. Any insight as to how to approach/understand this medically, not cosmetically?

I guess we just disagree about this. I don't think that is good advice. I think understanding and addressing the problem is much better than cosmetically changing it. Also, I, like most Americans, cannot afford, what would be considered, elective cosmetic surgery and do not make enough money to pay for that, if I were so inclined, which I'm not.