Does alcohol cause skin problems?

Why does alcohol make your face flush?

Alcohol widens blood vessels near the skin, a process called vasodilation. That increased blood flow causes flushing. In people with rosacea, facial blood vessels widen more easily in response to triggers, so even a small amount of alcohol can bring on noticeable flushing. Rosacea is a lasting condition that mainly affects the face; symptoms include warmth, redness, burning and stinging. Flushing after a drink alone is not enough to identify rosacea.34

Alcohol triggers are not identical for everyone with rosacea. Red wine is a common trigger, but other alcoholic drinks can also worsen symptoms. Changing the drink's name is not the same as removing the alcohol, however elaborate the cocktail menu gets.5

Can alcohol cause acne or other skin problems?

The connection between drinking and acne is unsettled, including in adults. Alcohol is not an established explanation for every breakout. Rosacea can also cause bumps that look like acne, so persistent facial bumps alongside flushing or stinging deserve an assessment rather than an assumption. Alcohol can aggravate some inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis, but the relationship is more complicated than one drink causing one patch.56

Heavy or prolonged drinking has broader skin consequences. Alcohol related liver disease can cause yellow skin or eyes, itching and easy bruising. Nutritional deficiencies associated with alcohol dependence can cause dry skin, rashes and impaired wound healing. Alcohol related immune dysfunction can also increase skin infections. These problems are different from a brief flush after drinking and need medical assessment, not just a change of moisturizer.1

What should you do if drinking worsens your skin?

1. 1Record what you drink and when flushing, warmth or discomfort occurs. Include other possible rosacea triggers, such as hot drinks, heat, sunlight and spicy food.
2. 2Look for a repeated pattern rather than blaming a single evening. A symptom diary can help identify your triggers.
3. 3If alcohol repeatedly worsens your rosacea symptoms, avoid that trigger and note whether your skin feels better or looks clearer.
4. 4Arrange a medical appointment if symptoms persist. Avoiding triggers helps manage rosacea, but treatment can also be needed.

A symptom diary gives you something more useful than a suspect list containing the entire drinks menu.3

What about alcohol in skincare?

For skin with rosacea, avoid products containing alcohol and choose gentle, fragrance free products made for sensitive skin. Avoid astringents and toners, and test new products before applying them to your face. Cleanse gently morning and evening with a mild cleanser, warm water and your fingertips. Do not scrub or exfoliate. Apply prescribed rosacea medication first, then moisturizer; letting your face dry before moisturizing makes burning or stinging less likely. Use sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and SPF 30 or higher every day.2

When should you see a doctor?

Book an appointment for recurring facial warmth, persistent redness, burning with water or skincare, or bumps that acne treatment does not clear. On darker skin, redness can be harder to see; warmth, swelling, darker patches and stinging can be more noticeable. Seek urgent medical care if you have rosacea and develop eye pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, a red eye or a gritty feeling. Eye symptoms can signal inflammation that threatens eyesight.45