Quitting alcohol: benefits for the skin.

The consumption of alcohol affects the skin indirectly by disrupting the function of several organs, especially the liver, which handles over 80% of its metabolism. There, ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic molecule, then into less harmful compounds through successive enzymatic reactions. This process is particularly energy-intensive and consumes many micronutrients, including minerals and antioxidants. These nutrients then become less available to protect the skin from oxidative stress and from photoaging. As a result, skin cell renewal slows, dead cells build up, the complexion becomes duller, and signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, may appear prematurely.

Moreover, alcohol has a diuretic effect that promotes dehydration of the body, and therefore of the skin. As a result, the skin can lose suppleness and elasticity, with tightness and dry patches appearing. The alcohol is also a potent vasodilator: when consumed repeatedly, it can induce a lasting dilation of facial blood vessels, causing redness or worsening that associated with rosacea. Finally, alcohol can alter hormonal balance by increasing estradiol and testosterone levels, which stimulates sebum production by the sebaceous glands. Excessive sebum secretion then promotes pore blockage and the development of blemishes.

The link between excessive alcohol consumption and skin problems should not be overlooked.

The cessation of alcohol consumption is generally accompanied by a gradual improvement in skin health, largely due to reduced oxidative stress. During its metabolism, alcohol generates excessive free radicals that exceed the body's antioxidant defenses and compromise the skin barrier. This oxidative assault contributes to dryness, redness, chronic inflammation, and premature wrinkle formation. When alcohol consumption ceases, oxidative stress gradually diminishes, allowing the skin to return to an environment more favorable for renewal and repair.

Certain cutaneous changes associated with alcohol appear to be at least partially reversible. In a mouse model, alcohol-induced skin hyperpigmentation was observed in mice with reduced activity of the enzyme ALDH2, which is involved in acetaldehyde clearance. This pigmentation, linked to deposits of melanin in the epidermis, increased with alcohol dose but regressed after ethanol cessation. These findings suggest that certain alcohol-related pigmentary alterations may fade when exposure ceases, although this phenomenon has not been clearly documented in humans.

However, skin improvement after alcohol cessation is far from immediate. Rat studies show that several skin parameters altered by chronic alcohol consumption, such as increased transepidermal water loss, changes in blood flow, disruption of the skin barrier, and lipid peroxidation, can persist for several weeks after alcohol cessation. These findings suggest that alcohol induces profound structural and functional changes in the skin, which require time to normalize.

Thus, although alcohol cessation is an initial step in improving skin quality, visible benefits gradually emerge in line with skin regeneration and the rebalancing of physiological functions.

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• GALLAGHER C. J. & al. Impact of smoking and alcohol use on facial aging in women: Results of a large multinational, multiracial, cross-sectional survey. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2019). 

• SCHUTTELAAR M. & al. Association between moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and lifestyle factors in the Dutch general population. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2022).

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