Hangover Skin Prevention: Prepare Your Skin Before Drinking

Ever wake up after a long night out with puffiness, redness, dullness, or dry-looking skin? You are not imagining it, hangover face is real! Alcohol can have noticeable short-term effects on the skin, including dehydration, flushing, and increased redness in those with rosacea or alcohol flush reaction.

To be crystal clear, we do not recommend drinking alcohol and there is no “skin healthy” way to drink. As The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes, alcohol carries health risks regardless of beverage type, so there is no form of alcohol that benefits the skin. There’s even a loose link between alcohol and skin cancer.

However, there are simple things you can do before, during, and after drinking that can help limit some of the visible next-day effects, including dryness, redness, irritation, puffiness, and dullness. Think of this as your skin care game plan for a night out.

How A Night Of Drinking Can Impact Your Skin

A night of drinking can show up on the skin in several ways. Common next-day complaints include:

• dry, dull-looking skin
• facial flushing or lingering redness
• puffiness, especially around the eyes
• more irritation if your skin barrier is already sensitive

For patients with rosacea, alcohol can be especially frustrating. The American Academy of Dermatology lists alcohol as a common rosacea trigger and specifically notes that red wine can be a major culprit for flare-ups.

Over time, frequent or heavier alcohol use may worsen ongoing redness, aggravate conditions like rosacea and psoriasis, and contribute to an older-looking complexion. More on long-term impact of alcohol and skin appearance can be found here.

How to Prep Your Skin Before Drinking

Hydrate earlier in the day

The key to minimizing alcohol-related issues is avoiding dehydration as much as possible. One simple step is to avoid starting the night already dehydrated. Hydrating beforehand will not erase all of alcohol’s effects, but it may help reduce some of the dryness and dullness that can look worse the next morning.

Use a barrier-supportive moisturizer

If alcohol tends to leave your skin feeling dry or irritated, focus on moisturizing beforehand. Think of this as supporting your skin barrier, not “protecting” your skin from alcohol. Opt for heavier cream or ointment moisturizers as they tend to hold more moisture in the skin than thinner lotions.

Keep your skincare routine simple that night

This is one of the easiest ways to lower the odds of waking up with angry skin. If you know you’ll be out partying it may be wise to avoid irritating products such as retinoids, leave-on salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, strong exfoliating acids, and physical scrubs in the days beforehand. If your skin ends up more dehydrated or reactive overnight, those ingredients can feel harsher than usual.

Do not over-exfoliate before going out

Some people try to get an instant glow by exfoliating right before an event. Unfortunately, if you are also drinking later, over-exfoliating may leave your skin more reactive, tight, or stingy the next day.

Things You Can Do While Drinking

Alternate alcohol with water

Drinking water between alcoholic drinks will not fully prevent next-day skin changes, but it may help support hydration and slow the pace of intake. This one is also a great way to avoid hangovers.

Avoid stacking other common skin triggers

For individuals with chronic skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis, alcohol may not be the only issue. Other triggers like heat, spicy foods, stress, or UV exposure (if day drinking) may also be apparent. When multiple triggers pile up at once, redness can be much harder to control.

Do not aggressively touch or rub your face

If your skin is already flushed or irritated, frequent rubbing can make the redness look worse. While this may seem minor, it really can make a difference. Especially for patients who are already prone to sensitivity.

Reapply sunscreen if you are out during the day

Continuing to practice proper sun safety (including wearing and reapplying sunscreen) is very important for patio brunches, festivals, rooftop events, and pool days. Sun exposure and alcohol can be a rough combination for redness-prone skin.

Does The Type Of Alcoholic Drink Matter?

As mentioned previously, there is no truly “skin-friendly” alcohol. In general, the total amount of alcohol consumed matters more than whether it comes from beer, wine, or spirits.

That said, some choices may be easier for your skin to tolerate than others:

• Lower-alcohol or diluted drinks may be easier to pace. Drinks with a lower alcohol concentration (think beer) are often consumed more slowly, which can make it easier to drink less overall and alternate with water.
• Red wine may be more likely to trigger redness. For people with rosacea or facial flushing, red wine can be a common trigger. If redness is a concern, white wine or a more diluted drink may be less irritating for some people.
• Sugary cocktails and heavy mixers may worsen puffiness. High-sugar drinks can leave some people looking more swollen, dull, or inflamed the next day.
• Darker liquors may contribute to worse next-day effects. Darker spirits tend to contain more congeners than their lighter counterparts, which may contribute to more noticeable hangover symptoms and a more tired-looking appearance.
• Previous experiences matter greatly. One person may flush after red wine. Another may notice more puffiness after sugary mixed drinks. If you can determine a type of alcohol that does not work well for your skin, avoid it!

In the end, the best option is the drink that seems to trigger your skin the least, in the smallest reasonable amount, with water alongside it. This does not make alcohol healthy for your skin, but it may help reduce some of the visible effects the next day.

How to Take Care of Your Skin After Drinking

Remove your makeup before bed

Sleeping in makeup after a night out can leave skin looking more congested, irritated, and dull. Even if you are tired, it is worth taking a minute to wash your face. Stick with a gentle cleanser instead of trying to “deep clean” with a scrub.

Rehydrate before bed and again in the morning

The Cleveland Clinic recommends drinking water before bed and again after waking as part of hangover recovery. This will not undo the effects of alcohol, but it may help with dehydration-related dryness and that overall run-down look the next morning.

Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer

The morning after drinking is usually not the time to attack your skin with harsh products. A gentle cleanser and a moisturizing cream can help support the skin barrier while your skin settles down.

Skip strong actives the next day

Continue avoiding strong actives if your skin feels red, dry, tight, or sensitive the next morning. That includes retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, exfoliating acids like glycolic or salicylic acid, scrubs, and any product you already know can irritate your skin. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is let your skin calm down before jumping back into a more aggressive routine.

Try a cool compress if you wake up puffy or red

A cool compress can be a simple comfort measure if you wake up with facial puffiness or flushing. It will not “treat” the cause, but it may temporarily reduce the look of swelling and help the skin feel calmer.

Conclusion

There is no alcohol that is good for your skin, and no routine that can fully cancel out its effects. However, if you choose to drink, a little planning can help reduce some of the most common day-after skin problems.

The best approach is a realistic one: keep your skin care routine simple, support your skin barrier, drink water, pay attention to your personal triggers, and avoid trying to “fix” irritated skin with harsher products the next morning. If alcohol regularly triggers significant redness or flare-ups, especially if you have rosacea, it may be worth talking with a dermatologist about ways to better protect your skin.

Adam Smithee, MD is a Board Certified Dermatologist who grew up just up the road from Austin in Round Rock, Texas. Dr. Smithee is experienced in treating both adult and pediatric patients, from eczema to skin cancer to more complex dermatologic conditions. He is committed to treating all patients with a compassionate and patient centered approach while providing them with the most up to date information about their condition and treatment options.

Disclaimer: The contents of the Westlake Dermatology website, including text, graphics, and images, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for direct medical advice from your physician or other qualified professional.