From the Guidelines
Alcohol is not an effective treatment for acne and is generally not recommended for acne care. The most recent and highest quality study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2024 1, provides evidence-based recommendations for the management of acne vulgaris, but does not mention alcohol as a treatment option. Instead, the study recommends topical therapies such as benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and antibiotics, as well as oral antibiotics like doxycycline and isotretinoin for moderate to severe acne.
Some key points to consider when managing acne include:
- Using topical therapies that combine multiple mechanisms of action, as recommended by the guidelines 1
- Limiting systemic antibiotic use and combining systemic antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide and other topical therapies, as suggested by the guidelines 1
- Avoiding alcohol-based products like toners or astringents, which can disrupt the skin barrier and exacerbate inflammation, as they are counterproductive for acne management
- Following a gentle skincare routine with non-comedogenic products, including twice-daily cleansing with a mild cleanser, oil-free moisturizer, and daily sunscreen, as recommended by the guidelines 1
It's also important to note that while some studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may have certain health benefits, such as reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, the evidence is not relevant to the treatment of acne, and alcohol consumption is not recommended as a treatment for acne. In fact, a study published in 2002 1 highlights the risks associated with alcohol consumption, including an increased risk of certain cancers, and recommends limiting alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Overall, the best approach to managing acne is to follow evidence-based recommendations and avoid using alcohol as a treatment, as it is not effective and can potentially worsen acne over time.
From the Research
Treatment of Acne
The provided studies discuss various treatments for acne, including topical and systemic therapies. However, none of the studies mention alcohol as a treatment for acne.
- The studies discuss the use of topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and oral antibiotics such as doxycycline and minocycline, as well as hormonal therapies like combination oral contraception and isotretinoin 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Isotretinoin is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating severe recalcitrant nodular acne and is often used to treat resistant or persistent moderate to severe acne 3.
- Topical therapy is often helpful in the long-term management of nodulocystic acne, and new products are available that deliver topical agents in novel ways to decrease skin irritation 5.
- Non-antimicrobial treatments, such as topical and oral therapies, can be highly efficacious at controlling acne, especially when used as maintenance therapy 6.
Conclusion on Alcohol Treatment
There are no research papers among the provided studies to assist in answering the question of whether alcohol treats acne.