Alcohol consumption increases rosacea risk in women

According to new research published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, increased consumption of alcohol, particularly white wine and liquor, is associated with a higher risk of rosacea in women.

"Drinking alcohol has a number of effects on your body that can impact your skin," says board-certified dermatologist and study author Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, FAAD, chair of the department of dermatology at Brown University in Providence, R.I. "While alcohol has been linked to a variety of skin disorders, including psoriasis and acne, our research suggests that it's also associated with the development of rosacea in women."

Rosacea, a skin disease that causes redness and flushing on the face and neck, affects approximately 16 million Americans. To examine this condition's connection to alcohol consumption, the study authors reviewed data collected from 82,737 women via the Nurses' Health Study II. Over the 14-year period from 1991 to 2005, there were 4,945 cases of rosacea in the study population.

The research, led by Wen-Qing Li, an assistant professor of dermatology at Brown University, found that women who drank alcohol had an elevated risk of developing rosacea, and that risk increased as their alcohol consumption increased. In examining the risk associated with specific types of alcohol, the researchers found that white wine and liquor were significantly associated with a higher rosacea risk.

Although more research is necessary to determine why alcohol consumption may increase the risk of rosacea, the authors believe that alcohol's weakening of the immune system and widening of the blood vessels could contribute to the redness and flushing that occur when one develops the condition. The authors say further research is also needed to shed more light on the connections between specific types of alcohol and rosacea.

While red wine has been identified as a rosacea trigger for those who already have the disease, this study suggests it is not significantly associated with developing rosacea in the first place. The authors note that white wine and liquor contain high concentrations of alcohol without the flavonoids and other anti-inflammatory substances found in red wine. Despite its anti-inflammatory properties, however, red wine also contains other substances, like histamine and resveratrol, that may contribute to flushing in patients who already have rosacea, the study says.

"Our research contributes to the sizable body of evidence that demonstrates alcohol's harmful effects on the body, including the skin," Dr. Qureshi says. "Science has identified many factors that may potentially cause rosacea, and our study indicates that alcohol may be one of them."

"Women who wish to maintain the health of their skin -- and their overall health -- should limit their alcohol consumption," Dr. Qureshi adds. "Those who believe they have rosacea should see a board-certified dermatologist for the proper diagnosis and treatment."