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Even just a single drink reduces immune function, which can become worse when you drink regularly, placing you at risk of skin infections. Alcohol can directly impair your immune system but can also do so indirectly if you develop deficiencies of vitamin C and zinc, both of which help to maintain a strong immune system. Additionally, when someone regularly drinks large quantities of alcohol, spider veins (or what some think is a rash from drinking too much) can appear on the surface of their skin. While alcohol can directly cause an alcoholic rash, if you have liver damage because of drinking, this can also contribute to the appearance of extra veins. As your veins are more prone to damage with alcohol abuse, they become leaky, which can also cause your face and other areas of your skin to look swollen.
In a case-control study of 175 people with rosacea and 145 people with normal skin, there was no significant difference in alcohol consumption between the two groups. One of the earliest signs of alcohol abuse is a persistently red face due to enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia). This appears because regulation of vascular control in the brain fails with sustained alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol (ethanol) intake or alcohol abuse can result in many health problems and is implicated as a cause or aggravating factor for several skin conditions.
Sensitivity to alcohol
“If flushing bothers you, and you know alcohol is a trigger, the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to avoid it,” suggests Dr. Vij. Fair-skinned people of Northern European backgrounds who flush when they drink may have some degree of rosacea. Alcohol flush reaction is a condition that is experienced more frequently by people of East Asian descent, giving rise to names sober house such as «Asian flush» or «Asian glow». The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that if people choose to drink, they do so in moderation. They define moderate amounts as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Medicines that disguise the symptoms of alcohol intolerance may make you feel like you can drink more than you should.
Rosacea can often appear on the outside to be an acne outbreak or natural coloring on the cheeks. The condition tends to affect fair-skinned, middle-aged women more often, but anyone of any age or skin tone can develop the condition. There are currently no cures for rosacea, but there are options available to treat specific symptoms. The truth is that studies have shown there is very little, if any, connection between alcohol use and rhinophyma. The condition is understood and treated as a condition that is totally separate from alcohol use disorder.
Immune Health
Current research indicates a positive association between alcohol and rosacea. Drinking may increase the risk of developing this skin disease and trigger flare-ups in those who already have it. Along with urticaria (see above), patients may develop low blood pressure, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, and low heart rate (anaphylaxis). Even tiny amounts of alcohol may induce urticaria in people who have had a severe reaction previously, although allergy testing is often negative.
