Alcohol can indeed dry out the skin after exfoliating because it acts as a solvent that strips away natural oils and moisture from the skin’s surface. When you exfoliate, you remove dead skin cells and often disrupt the skin barrier temporarily, making the skin more vulnerable to drying agents like alcohol. Using alcohol-containing products immediately after exfoliation can exacerbate dryness, irritation, and sensitivity.
Exfoliation is a process that removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells, promoting skin renewal and improving texture. However, this process can also weaken the skin’s natural protective barrier, which normally helps retain moisture. When the barrier is compromised, the skin loses water more easily, leading to dryness and sometimes redness or irritation.
Alcohol, especially in skincare products, is often used as an antiseptic or solvent. It evaporates quickly, which can give a temporary feeling of freshness or tightness, but it also removes lipids and natural moisturizing factors from the skin. This removal can cause the skin to become dry and flaky, particularly if the skin is already sensitive or compromised after exfoliation.
Medically, this drying effect of alcohol on the skin is well documented. For example, in dermatological treatments such as isotretinoin therapy for acne, patients often experience xerosis (dry skin), and alcohol-based cleansing can worsen this condition if not used carefully. In one study, patients on isotretinoin developed dermatitis neglecta, a condition linked to dry skin and inadequate cleansing, which was treated by cleansing with alcohol, but the underlying dryness was a key factor in the skin condition development [1]. This shows that while alcohol can be used to clean the skin, it must be balanced with proper moisturizing to avoid excessive dryness.
In skincare routines, experts recommend avoiding alcohol-based toners or astringents immediately after exfoliation. Instead, using gentle, alcohol-free cleansers and following up with hydrating and barrier-repairing moisturizers is advised. This approach helps restore the skin’s moisture and protect it from irritation. For example, skin cycling routines emphasize using gentle cleansers and avoiding harsh toners or exfoliants on recovery days to allow the skin barrier to heal [3].
The drying effect of alcohol is not only limited to topical use but also systemic effects from drinking alcohol can impact skin hydration. Alcohol consumption dilates blood vessels and causes inflammation, which can contribute to skin redness and dehydration over time [2]. However, this systemic effect is different from the direct topical drying caused by alcohol-containing skincare products.
In summary, alcohol can dry out the skin after exfoliating because it removes natural oils and moisture, which are already reduced by exfoliation. To maintain healthy skin, it is best to avoid alcohol-based products immediately after exfoliation and instead focus on gentle cleansing and moisturizing to support the skin barrier.
Sources:
[1] PMC – Dermatitis neglecta after using Isotretinoin
[2] AOL – What Happens To Your Skin After You Stop Drinking Alcohol
[3] Westlake Dermatology – What Is Skin Cycling (And How to Do It Correctly)
