Alcohol Associated With Elevated Rosacea Risk in Women

Women who are seeking to keep their skin healthy may want to consider limiting their alcohol intake, as results from a recent study indicate that alcohol consumption is linked to a heightened risk of rosacea in women.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, evaluated data from 1991 to 2005 on 82,737 women, among whom there were 4945 reported cases of rosacea. Based on their analysis, the research team determined that women who drank alcohol had a greater risk of developing rosacea than those who did not and that this risk increased alongside alcohol consumption. The investigators also found that white wine and liquor were associated with a particularly heightened risk of rosacea.

“Science has identified many factors that may potentially cause rosacea, and our study indi- cates that alcohol may be one of them,” study author Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, FAAD, said in a statement. “Women who wish to main- tain the health of their skin—and their overall health—should limit their alcohol consumption. Those who believe they have rosacea should see a board-certified dermatologist for the proper diagnosis and treatment.”

The study’s authors suggested that alcohol could contribute to the development of rosacea by weaken- ing the immune system and widening blood vessels, though they noted that further research is needed to better understand the effect that different types of alcohol have on the condition.