Chances are, you’re reading this because you’ve tried it all: cleansers, creams, and even prescriptions that promise better skin health. You’re likely fed up with the stubborn breakouts and wondering what you can possibly do to fight back against the acne that is controlling your life.
You might even find yourself wondering, “Does alcohol cause acne breakouts?”, especially if you’ve found that you’re drinking more frequently than usual (or if you already know drinking has become a problem in your life).
Dealing with acne affects more than your skin. It shakes your confidence in social situations and leaves you wondering if people are looking at you or your acne. You might feel powerless to control acne breakouts, but if you have been drinking alcohol more than usual, there could be an easier solution than you think.
While alcohol isn’t cited as a direct cause of acne, it’s a major contributing factor, especially when drinking becomes a frequent habit or for someone dependent on alcohol. You may ask yourself, does alcohol cause acne?
At Changes Healing Center, we are here to help. Whether you need help cutting back or are ready to take a critical look at how alcohol has affected your life (and your skin), you are in the right place.
Excessive alcohol intake doesn’t have the same acne-causing effects as clogged pores or bacteria, but it does contribute to skin health. It messes with your hormone levels, causes dehydration and dry skin, and results in widespread inflammation from the inside out.
Excessive alcohol consumption also causes excess oil production and poor inflammation. Together, all these factors create the perfect environment to trigger acne flare-ups and make other skin disorders much worse.
If you look closely, you’ll see that your skin is covered in pores and hair follicles. Any time that these are clogged, whether with oil, dead skin cells, or even beauty products, there’s a risk of developing acne. Risk factors like fluctuating hormones, certain medications, diet, stress, and even drinking alcohol all contribute.
The root cause of acne is bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes. After being trapped by oil or dirt, this bacterium multiplies inside your pores. The pain and redness you notice before a pimple emerges are caused by inflammation.
Even though alcohol isn’t a primary cause of acne, it can aggravate existing acne and skin disorders. The risk is much greater when alcohol is consumed in large quantities or combined with other poor lifestyle choices, such as eating greasy, oily foods or not getting enough sleep.
Have you ever noticed you’re extra thirsty after a night of drinking? It takes a lot of water for your liver to process alcohol, and it pulls that water from your body, including your skin.
With frequent or excessive alcohol consumption, your liver won’t be able to flush these toxins as effectively. Acne breakouts become more common after drinking alcohol because there’s a buildup of toxins in your system. Alcohol consumption exacerbates rosacea as well.
Loss of hydration also makes your skin dry, lifeless, and itchy. Paired with inflammation, skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema get significantly worse.
Even when you take all the steps for maintaining healthy skin, like washing your pillowcases and having a skincare routine, the decision to consume alcohol regularly can still make particularly mild acne much worse. The only way to heal your skin when alcohol is involved is to start with the inside out. This starts with looking at your drinking habits.
Dehydration is one of the most immediate ways alcohol impacts your skin. When your body is low on water, your skin may overcompensate by producing more oil.
Excess oil production clogs your pores, making skin look flaky, dull, and irritated. Dryness also makes your skin barrier weaker. It doesn’t defend as well against bacteria and breakouts.
Your hormone levels play a big role in the health of your skin, and drinking alcohol can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones in the body. It affects sex hormones like testosterone, which upsets hormonal balance and increases oil production.
Alcohol also affects stress hormones like cortisol, which can exacerbate inflammation and make existing breakouts significantly worse. If you typically experience hormonal acne at different points in your cycle, you might notice they are more intense than usual. Acne treatments are also less effective, even when you use them as part of a robust skincare routine.
You may have noticed that after a night of heavy drinking, your skin looks shinier or oilier than it usually does. It’s easy to brush this symptom off, but it’s not in your head. This oiliness is your body’s response to alcohol’s drying effects.
It’s well-known that alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates you, but what does that have to do with acne severity and oil production?
As your skin dries out, your body rushes to its aid. Your sebaceous glands are stimulated to produce more oil, often resulting in excess sebum production. With nowhere to go, this sebum clogs your pores. It’s the perfect home for acne-causing bacteria.
The systemic inflammation caused by drinking affects more than your liver and gut health; it also shows on your skin. If you have existing acne, atopic dermatitis (eczema), or other inflammatory skin conditions, you’ll notice increased redness after drinking and itchy skin. While this is a type of low-grade inflammation, frequent drinking compounds the issue over time.
There has been a great deal of dermatological research done on the gut-skin connection. When you drink too frequently, alcohol disrupts good bacteria in your gut and allows bad bacteria to flourish. Over time, you can even develop “leaky gut”, which affects your immune system.
What does poor immune function have to do with skin health? It leaves your body unable to regulate inflammation and fight back against bacteria living in your pores. If you have existing acne or skin conditions, you’ll also find you struggle to heal.
Skin conditions and acne lesions may not heal as quickly, lingering much longer than you are used to. Instead of calming down and clearing up, breakouts can become more inflamed, more frequent, and slower to resolve.
If you are choosing sugary drinks like cocktails, wine, or flavored seltzers, sugar adds another layer of skin health. People who opt for sugary alcoholic beverages have a greater risk of developing acne compared to those who drink liquor or less sugary drinks.
Sugary alcohol intake is worse because it spikes blood glucose and insulin levels. This spike leads to inflammation and increased sebum production, leading to an increased risk for breakouts.
Over-the-counter or prescription acne cream may help manage breakouts caused or worsened by alcohol, but they won’t address the root cause if drinking continues. Topical products can reduce bacteria and inflammation temporarily for some relief. When the alcohol consumption continues, however, you’re ignoring the root cause.
Alcohol will continue disrupting your hormones, hydration, and gut health, making the results limited and short-lived. The most effective treatment is going to start from within, by addressing the root cause of drinking habits.
If alcohol is playing a bigger role in your life than you’d like to admit, addressing your drinking may not only improve your skin but also your entire sense of well-being. Addiction treatment programs like the ones we offer at Changes are about more than just detox.
We help you take a deeper look at addiction and understand why you drink. Through treatment and breaking away from alcohol consumption, the habits you build can help with maintaining clear skin naturally. Your self-esteem can start to heal, too.
There doesn’t have to be a dramatic event or life-altering situation, like financial fallout, failed relationships, job loss, or legal trouble, to take a look at alcohol consumption. If your skin (and overall health) are suffering from alcohol use, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Changes Healing Center uses a holistic approach to treatment. The habits you learn here don’t just support sobriety, they also drastically improve skin health. From proper sleep and nutrition to learning coping skills that help you choose better alternatives over alcohol, you’ll find the support you need here. Call us to learn more today.
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