This Is What Happens To Your Skin When You Drink—And When You Give Up Alcohol

Is your complexion yet another reason to be sober-curious?

Adewy, more hydration complexion. Fewer wrinkles. Less redness. These may be things you think only a fancy skincare regimen or intervention from a dermatologist can achieve. But it turns, out the secret to healthier, better-looking skin may be as simple as giving up your nightly glass of Pinot.

It's no secret that sobriety is having a moment—what was once relegated to certain months (Dry January, Sober October) has become a year-round lifestyle for many. According to recent research, 49% of Americans said they plan to drink less this year, and that includes a growing number of young people. Like skinny jeans, alcohol is decidedly ‘out,’ with 39% of Gen-Zers saying they’ll abstain from imbibing in 2025. (Exhibit A: Over 20 million ‘sobercurious’ TikTok videos.)

What's behind the trend? It could be that we're learning more about alcohol's deceptive health halo: The surgeon general recently called for revised warning labels that blatantly spell out its carcinogenic nature and the World Health Organization has said there’s no safe amount of alcohol. And as our largest organ, our skin undoubtedly feels its effects. But, what exactly are those effects? And can you expect things to head in the other direction if you choose to abstain?

Pour yourself a mocktail and keep reading.

The Sobering Truth

Unlike the effects that regular consumption of alcohol can have on, say, your liver, you can witness the damage it's doing to your skin with your eyes. Your complexion's appearance is the end product of many internal processes working in tandem inside your body, says Alexander Golberg, MD, DO, a double board-certified internist in New York City specializing in functional and aesthetic care—and alcohol consumption undoubtedly affects those processes. And though scientists are “still learning about the biological effects of alcohol on the body and the skin, more and more recent research shows that the less you drink, the better off you are,” adds Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin MD in San Diego.

The negative impact that alcohol can have on your skin can be summarized in this way:

• It causes dryness: Alcohol is a diuretic, a fancy way of saying it makes you pee a lot. This makes it systemically dehydrating, one of the more immediate effects you'll see in the mirror. “You may notice that your skin is generally more dehydrated and duller the morning after drinking,” says Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York and a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
• It increases inflammation: Alcohol is metabolized through the liver where it’s broken down into acetaldehyde, explains Dr. Barrett. This is a toxin that triggers the production of inflammatory molecules known as cytokines, adds Dr. Palm. This can be especially problematic if you're dealing with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, both of which can be exacerbated when you drink. It can also lead a buzzy condition called inflammaging, which is when these ill effects cause skin to look older (more on that below).
• It dilates blood vessels: That inflammation may be why you looked flushed post-drinking, but it can also be because alcohol dilates and opens the blood vessels, says Dr. Reszko. It’s usually temporary, but can become more chronic and cause persistent redness, particularly in vascular areas like the cheeks and nose. As such, it can also worsen symptoms for those with rosacea.
• It speeds up the aging process: As the liver breaks down alcohol, ROS (reactive oxygen species) are created as a byproduct, says Dr. Barrett. That triggers what’s known as oxidative stress, damaging the skin’s mitochondria and ultimately contributing to premature aging of cells, adds Dr. Reszko. Alcohol also causes the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which attach to and break down collagen and elastin—proteins imperative for healthy, youthful skin—leading to less elasticity and more wrinkles, Dr. Palm explains. Granted, this doesn’t happen overnight. “The body is equipped to experience a toxin and deal with it. It’s the chronic exposure overtime that overwhelms the skin’s ability to repair itself,” she points out.

Finally, there are many more indirect ways alcohol impacts skin. “Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, suppresses the immune system, messes with gut flora, and affects hormone levels,” says Dr. Golberg. All of those can lead to the aforementioned skin issues and more, like breakouts. (Not to mention that people often forget to wash their face or do their skincare routines after a night of drinking, which can also become problematic overtime, notes Dr. Reszko.)