There’s a misconception that once you become an adult, then all of your teenage breakouts magically disappear. But for people suffering from hormonal acne or adult acne, you know that this is far from the truth. Regardless of age, acne can be triggered by various things like genetics, lifestyle habits, nutrition, and hormones [1]. For people who struggle with acne, one question that often comes to mind is, can alcohol cause acne?
Though alcohol doesn’t directly cause acne, research indicates that there may be a connection. Alcohol consumption can lead to a weakened immune system and may even degrade the effectiveness of oral acne medicine treatments [2].
Get back to clear skin.
Tired of trying products that don't work? Our personalized formulas contain scientifically-proven ingredients shown to deliver visible results.
How Does Alcohol Affect Acne?
There’s several factors that can impact alcohol’s effect on your internal health. This includes the amount and frequency of consumption, as well as general intolerance to alcohol. If you notice irritated or dull skin after a night out, then alcohol is a likely contributor. However, it goes much deeper than just our skin.
Alcohol Can Cause Dehydration
Replenishing your body with water before, during, and after drinking alcohol can help. Also, using a gentle facial cleanser and night cream to lock in moisture can help repair your skin barrier.
Alcohol Can Cause Hormonal Imbalance
Consuming an alcoholic beverage can disrupt the balance of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. This can be particularly troublesome for those acne-prone skin as these hormones control the production of oil and regulate how the skin reacts to inflammation. Research shows that increased cortisol levels can break down collagen in the skin and trigger inflammation [5]. This compound effect can lead to severe acne breakouts and uneven skin tone, which we are trying to fix.
Alcohol Can Cause Inflammation
Your best skin—in 3 simple steps.
Our award-winning AI technology turns millions of scientific data points into a personalized, clinically effective, 3-step regimen that works—for you.
Is Alcohol Safe In Skincare Products?
If alcohol can have these effects on our internal body systems, then is it just as bad for our skin? Alcohol denat is a common ingredient in skincare products like toners. Typically, toner is good for acne-prone skin to balance the skin’s pH and keep it hydrated. But do you still get the same benefits if there’s alcohol in it?
It’s been an ongoing debate in the skincare community, but alcohol can be beneficial for some skin types. For example, people with oily skin produce excess sebum, which can be controlled by alcohol-containing products [7]. This can improve acne breakouts since it eliminates dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria that can be trapped in your pores.
On the other hand, sensitive or dry skin types can exacerbate their skin issues if they use alcohol products. Alternative ingredients that are more gentle for the skin, but can still regulate oil production, include salicylic acid and witch hazel.
Generally, we recommend staying away from products with a high concentration of alcohol to minimize the risk of skin irritation, flakiness, and dryness. However, you should consult with a board-certified dermatologist or opt for a personalized skincare set to create the optimal acne treatment plan.
Let’s Simplify Your Skincare Routine
So, does alcohol cause acne? Technically, no, there’s no direct correlation. However, alcohol does affect our internal body systems that lead to inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and dehydration – all triggers for acne breakouts. In some cases, alcohol in skincare can be beneficial for clear skin, but how can you be so sure?
PROVEN Skincare offers clean beauty solutions that are tailored to your skin concerns. Take our Skin Health Quiz to discover the best ingredients that will be infused into your 3-step skincare system to treat acne breakouts and acne scars. Restore your skin’s natural radiance with proven results.
