Why does alcohol dry your skin?

How your skin keeps water in

Your stratum corneum, the outermost skin layer, consists of cells surrounded by fats called lipids. Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids form an organised barrier between those cells. The outer layer's job is to keep water in, which is less glamorous than most skincare advertising but rather more useful. Removing those protective lipids increases water loss. Dryness is therefore not just about how much water reaches your skin; it also depends on how well your skin retains that water.34

Does alcohol dry out skin?

It can, but an alcohol containing product is not automatically more drying than the alternative. In healthcare, alcohol hand sanitiser is less drying than frequent washing with soap and water, and is usually the preferred method of cleaning hands. Some hand gels also contain a moisturiser. Treat alcohol as a possible contributor to dryness, rather than a reason to abandon effective hand hygiene.56

What about drinking alcohol?

With chronic excessive drinking, alcohol can replace normal food in the diet. Problems with digestion and liver function can also interfere with how nutrients are processed and absorbed. Too little protein or too few calories can leave skin dry and less elastic, while vitamin A deficiency can cause dry skin and rough follicles. These are consequences of nutritional deficiency, not a diagnosis you can make from a dry face after a drink. Alcohol can also cause temporary flushing through its breakdown product, acetaldehyde. Flushing is a blood vessel response, not the same thing as moisture loss.2

What should you do if your skin feels dry?

1. 1Remove aggravating products from your skincare routine. Alcohol is one possible trigger, alongside soaps, detergents and other solvents.
2. 2Use lukewarm water rather than hot water, and replace standard soap with a suitable soap substitute. Avoid prolonged hot baths.
3. 3Apply moisturiser generously to damp skin after bathing. Use it often enough to control dryness and itching, rather than reserving it for a particular time of day.
4. 4Choose a thicker moisturiser for very dry areas, especially the hands. Moisturisers help improve the barrier and reduce water escaping through the skin.

How should you use alcohol hand gel?

Apply the gel and rub it over every hand surface, including thumbs, fingertips and between fingers, until your hands feel dry. This takes around 20 seconds. Use soap and water when hands are dirty, because alcohol gel does not remove dirt. In hospital, clean your hands before and after visiting a patient, following the ward's instructions. Children need adult supervision to prevent gel reaching their eyes or being swallowed. Alcohol hand gel is suitable for use during pregnancy.567

Who should be more careful?

People with atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema, already have a vulnerable skin barrier. Irritants can damage the outer layer directly, producing redness and scaling at the contact site. Stop using an optional skincare product that triggers these changes and seek medical assessment if dryness becomes inflamed, deeply cracked or persistently itchy. Broken skin can allow infection to develop. Dryness can improve once contributing factors are controlled, although an underlying tendency to dry skin can persist.13