If you have pale skin, you might get a skin condition called rosacea. It causes redness, flushing, and acne-like bumps on your face. There are many causes behind why people develop it. However, “Does alcohol cause rosacea?” Yes, drinking alcohol can increase your risk, especially if you’re a woman. Let’s find out how:
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea often starts with increased facial redness and frequent blushing. Over time, it can worsen, leading to facial swelling, inflammation, visible blood vessels, acne-like breakouts, bumpy skin, and red, irritated eyes.
According to Dr. Tarek Shaath of Care Dermatology, “The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but family history can play a role. Middle-aged women are much more likely to develop rosacea compared to men or younger or older women. Other possible causes include reactions to bacteria, intestinal infections, an overgrowth of a skin mite called Demodex, and a lack of a protective skin protein.”
Rosacea makes your skin very sensitive, so you may have flare-ups depending on what triggers affect you. Common triggers include sunlight, heat, spicy foods, certain skin and hair products, wind, cold, exercise, some medications, and alcohol.
Does Alcohol Cause Rosacea to Flare Up?
National Rosacea Society conducted a survey and found that alcohol triggers rosacea in nearly 76% of the 353 patients surveyed. Among these, red wine is the most common cause of flare-ups. Over 72% said red wine triggered their rosacea, followed by 49% who reported white wine, and 42% who named beer as a trigger.
Other alcoholic drinks that caused flare-ups included vodka (28%), champagne (25%), whiskey and rum (22% each), tequila (20%), liqueurs (17%), and malt liquor (11%). It usually doesn’t take much alcohol to trigger a flare-up.
According to the survey, 31% of people said one drink is enough to cause an outbreak, another 31% said it takes just half a drink, and 15% said just a sip or two is enough. Meanwhile, 21% said it takes two drinks, and 12% said it takes more than two drinks to trigger symptoms.
Most respondents (76%) experienced symptoms right away, while 10% noticed them later the same day, and 14% reported flare-ups the next day. Most people in the survey said they avoid or limit alcohol because of their rosacea. Some have identified specific types of alcohol that cause flare-ups and avoid only those. More than three-quarters of those who reduced or avoided alcohol reported fewer rosacea flare-ups.
How Does Alcohol Affect Rosacea?
“To understand how alcohol affects your rosacea, keep a journal of the alcohol you drink and any symptoms that appear afterward. This will help you figure out your tolerance levels.” Says, Dr. Tarek Shaath. Following is how drinking alcohol affects rosacea:
• Alcohol Expands Your Blood Vessels
When you blush from emotions like shame or excitement, your blood vessels widen to increase blood flow to your face. The same thing happens when you drink alcohol. Alcohol is a vasodilator, which is why people often look flushed after a few drinks.
This can be embarrassing for those with rosacea, as their red faces might be mistaken for signs of heavy drinking. Dr. Tarek Shaath says,” You can have rosacea even if you never drink alcohol. But if you do drink, it can worsen your rosacea, cause an embarrassing flare-up, or trigger your first flare.”
• Alcohol Raises Your Body Temperature
The top trigger for people with rosacea is exposure to sunlight, along with stress, heat, and alcohol. All these triggers have one thing in common: they raise your body temperature. Winter can be especially challenging for those with rosacea, as extreme temperatures can irritate your skin and cause flare-ups.
Cold, windy weather combined with overheated indoor spaces creates a perfect situation for a rosacea flare. Drinking alcohol, which raises your body temperature, can make things worse, especially if you’re already feeling warm from the weather or stress. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, be cautious with hot beverages like cocoa, as they can also cause blushing and flushing.
Is Alcohol Rosacea Reversible?
Alcohol rosacea is Reversible, but the condition is chronic. Avoiding triggers like alcohol can help reduce symptoms. However, rosacea itself is not reversible and will continue even without those triggers. Rosacea usually gets worse over time and needs ongoing management to keep symptoms under control.
Science-Backed Tips to Avoid the Red Reaction
Alcohol surely dilates your blood vessels and makes your face turn red. It can make you embarrassed the next day. So, is there a way to consume alcohol but keep the rosacea in check? The following tips can help:
• Choose Alcoholic Drinks That Don’t Irritate Your Skin
Keep track of flare-ups to identify which alcoholic drinks you can tolerate. For example, some people with rosacea have fewer issues with beer than with wine. Research on beer’s effects on skin conditions is limited, but some studies suggest that certain compounds in beer might have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Drink Slowly to Reduce Flares
Consider keeping a diary to track your alcohol intake and the type of drink you consume. This can help you understand how much alcohol you can tolerate. It allows you to stay below your trigger level.
Drinking slowly can also reduce your overall alcohol intake, which can help minimize rosacea flare-ups. The less alcohol you consume, the less your blood vessels dilate, which can also reduce flares.
• Order Your Drinks On the Rocks
Heat is another vasodilator. So, chilled drinks cause less blood vessel expansion than warm ones at room-temperature alcohol.
• Alternate Drinks with Water
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urination and can lead to dehydration. Dr. Tarek Shaath adds that” dehydration can make your skin more sensitive and weaken its barrier. Rosacea-prone skin tends to be dehydrated. So, naturally, when the dehydration increases, it’s more likely to flare up.” To combat dehydration, have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.
• Avoid Other Rosacea Triggers When Drinking
Hot and spicy foods can trigger rosacea for some people, so avoid foods like horseradish dip and hot sauce when drinking alcohol. Heat dilates blood vessels, and since hot foods generate heat, peppers are a big no.
Instead, choose safe, anti-inflammatory foods such as spinach, kale, broccoli, salmon, tuna, sardines, blueberries, strawberries, nuts, beans, and olive oil.
When eating out, remember that consuming food with your drink slows down the absorption of alcohol, which can reduce the risk of flares. Foods high in fat are particularly effective at slowing alcohol absorption.
At the bar, skip the Buffalo wings and jalapeño poppers and opt for anti-inflammatory, high-fat options like cauliflower bites, salmon, or nuts.
Final Word
“Many people are embarrassed to see their dermatologist. However, they should remember that a red face does not necessarily indicate a heavy drinker personality. A dermatologist knows your skin better and treats it without judging you. “says Dr. Tarek Shaath. So, if you are worried about “Does alcohol cause rosacea?” yes, it can. So limit its intake.
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