How Alcohol Affects Atopic Dermatitis
Years of research on alcohol and atopic dermatitis has produced inconsistent results.
“To date, there is no evidence that alcohol is linked to atopic dermatitis, that it can worsen inflammation, or increase dryness or itching,” says JiaDe (Jeff) Yu, MD, a dermatologist with Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts, and chair of the department of dermatology for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine in Richmond.
Some people may notice facial redness and itching after drinking alcohol, which is often caused by a deficiency of alcohol dehydrogenase — a liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol, says Yu. Others may have a sensitivity to gluten or certain preservatives added to alcoholic drinks. “This is rare, but something to consider if there is a clear worsening of eczema when consuming alcohol,” says Yu.
How drinking alcohol impacts the skin may be due in part to its effects on the following:
- It can lead to an imbalanced gut microbiome, which can influence healthy bacteria levels on your skin.
- It results in an increased production of inflammatory chemicals like cytokines in your body.
- It can lead to increased leaking of fluids from tiny blood vessels in your skin.
- It can damage the immune system.
One study of almost 60,000 participants found that those who consumed more than two alcoholic drinks per day had worse AD symptoms, which often include itching, redness, and dryness. But even though the link is apparent, more studies are needed to prove alcohol caused these symptoms rather than diet or other lifestyle-related factors.
“Even after controlling for known risk factors for alcohol use disorder, such as depression and anxiety, the relationship between eczema and alcohol use disorder was seen,” says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, a dermatologist with Yale Medicine in Branford, Connecticut, and an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Cohen co-authored the study.
“While the reasons for this association are not fully understood, it is important for people with atopic dermatitis and for clinicians treating it to be aware of this, so that alcohol use disorder can be identified and addressed early in this group,” Cohen says.
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