Can You Drink Alcohol With Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)?

Can You Drink Alcohol With Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)?

Can You Drink Alcohol With Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)?
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Published on October 14, 2025
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While research on alcohol is evolving, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says drinking less or not at all is better for your health.

Some people with atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common type of eczema, may feel like drinking alcohol makes their symptoms worse.

Although current research hasn’t proven a connection between alcohol and AD specifically, drinking alcohol affects every tissue in your body in general. It has the biggest influence on other organs in your body, like the liver. But some experts believe it could also harm your body’s largest organ: your skin.

How Alcohol Affects Atopic Dermatitis

Years of research on alcohol and atopic dermatitis has produced inconsistent results.

“To date, there is no evidence that alcohol is linked to atopic dermatitis, that it can worsen inflammation, or increase dryness or itching,” says JiaDe (Jeff) Yu, MD, a dermatologist and chair of the department of dermatology for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine in Richmond.

However, after you drink alcohol, your body breaks it down into different components, which can damage the skin barrier and immune system response. That can cause flares in some other skin diseases.

 “[For example,] alcohol can trigger facial redness and itching in people with rosacea, a condition that is distinct from atopic dermatitis,” says Dr. Yu.
Some people may notice facial redness and itching after drinking alcohol, which is often caused by a deficiency of alcohol dehydrogenase — a liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol, says Yu.

 Others may have a sensitivity to gluten or certain preservatives added to alcoholic drinks. “This is rare, but something to consider if there is a clear worsening of eczema when consuming alcohol,” says Yu.
How drinking alcohol impacts the skin may be due in part to its effects on the following:

  • It can lead to an imbalanced gut microbiome, which can influence healthy bacteria levels on your skin.
  • It results in an increased production of inflammatory chemicals like cytokines in your body.
  • It can lead to increased leaking of fluids from tiny blood vessels in your skin.
  • It can damage the immune system.
One study of almost 60,000 participants found that those who consumed more than two alcoholic drinks per day had worse AD symptoms, which often include itching, redness, and dryness. But even though the link is apparent, more studies are needed to prove alcohol caused these symptoms rather than diet or other lifestyle-related factors.

Beyond worsened symptoms, drinking with AD may be linked to an increased risk of alcohol use disorder (alcohol dependence), according to a research review.

“Even after controlling for known risk factors for alcohol use disorder, such as depression and anxiety, the relationship between eczema and alcohol use disorder was seen,” says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, a dermatologist with Yale Medicine in Branford, Connecticut, and an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Cohen co-authored the study.

“While the reasons for this association are not fully understood, it is important for people with atopic dermatitis and for clinicians treating it to be aware of this, so that alcohol use disorder can be identified and addressed early in this group,” Cohen says.

Is It Safe to Drink During Atopic Dermatitis Flares?

It may be safe to drink during AD flares, as well as during periods of remission. Environmental factors — like pollen, cold and dry air, and dust mites — can trigger AD flares. But experts haven’t found enough evidence to include alcohol in this list.

“There is no known physiologic link between alcohol and causing flare-ups of atopic dermatitis,” Yu says.

But if you notice worse AD symptoms after you drink alcohol, listen to your body. Even though research hasn’t proven that drinking alcohol can cause AD flares, you should avoid it if it’s causing you discomfort.

Does Alcohol Interact With Atopic Dermatitis Medications?

Alcohol can interfere with several AD treatments, says Yu. Certain medications can lead to the following side effects when combined with alcohol:

  • diphenhydramine (Benadryl): Increased drowsiness.

     “Some antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can cause drowsiness, and alcohol can worsen that,” says Yu.
  • Topical tacrolimus (Protopic): Rash, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

     “Topical tacrolimus has been approved for use in atopic dermatitis since the early 2000s,” says Yu. “However, there is a phenomenon that occurs where alcohol triggers redness and rash in areas where tacrolimus was previously applied.”

  • dupilumab (Dupixent): Facial flushing.

     The effects of taking alcohol while on dupilumab (Dupixent) have been documented in case studies, but they aren’t well-established in large-scale research.

Are Some Alcoholic Drinks Safer for Atopic Dermatitis Than Others?

No type of alcoholic drink is safer than another for AD, as there are no proven links between AD and alcohol, says Yu. But some drinks have more alcohol than others, and in general, less alcohol is better for your overall health.

 For example, beer has about 5 percent alcohol, while whiskey can have as much as 40 percent.

Some other lower-alcohol choices include:

  • Beer (4 to 8 percent, or 8 to 12 percent for craft beer)
  • Wine (14 to 16 percent)
  • Champagne (12 ½ percent)
  • Hard seltzer (4 to 12 percent)
  • Kombucha (0.5 to 2 ½ percent)
Some drinks, like dark liquors and red wine, may have ingredients like congeners and inflammatory compounds that can trigger skin reactions. Clear spirits, such as gin and vodka, may cause fewer of these effects, but all alcoholic beverages can cause skin dryness.

Safe Drinking Practices for People With Atopic Dermatitis

If you choose to drink, you can take certain steps to do so as safely as possible. “Less is always more when it comes to alcohol, and all people tolerate different amounts,” says Yu. “If you drink and find that you are having a reaction, I would stop immediately and speak with a board-certified dermatologist.”

More and more research claims that no amount of alcohol is safe to drink. But if you still wish to drink, try to limit yourself to two drinks per day if you’re a man or one per day if you’re a woman.

For reference, one alcoholic drink equals:

  • 12 fluid ounces (fl oz) of regular beer
  • 5 fl oz of wine
  • 1 ½ fl oz of 80–proof distilled spirits
  • 7 fl oz of a rum and cola
When you enjoy alcohol, be sure to sip plenty of water between drinks. That can help keep you from getting dehydrated and prevent symptoms like headache and fatigue.

If you want to leave alcohol behind, but you miss the taste of your favorite beverage, know that many beers, wines, and spirits have alcohol-free versions. Many people find that these versions taste similar to the originals.

The Takeaway

  • Some people may feel they experience worsened symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD) when they drink alcohol, but research has yet to prove the connection.
  • The safest amount of alcohol is none. But if you decide to drink, try to limit yourself to no more than one serving a day if you’re a woman and two a day if you’re a man.
  • If you notice increased AD symptoms after drinking, tell your healthcare provider, who can help you determine the cause and suggest treatment.
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Jacquelyn Dosal

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.

Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.

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Abby McCoy is an experienced registered nurse who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She is a married mother of four and loves the circus — that is her home! She has family all over the world, and loves to travel as much as possible.

McCoy has written for publications like Remedy Health Media, Sleepopolis, and Expectful. She is passionate about health education and loves using her experience and knowledge in her writing.

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Resources
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