Does alcohol intake increase the risk of rosacea in adult women?

This study is likely providing the best evidence we'll get on this question for awhile. Using data from the Nurse's Health Study II, increasing amounts of alcohol intake, independent of other potential confounders, is associated with an increased risk of rosacea in women. Interestingly, this was only true for white wine and liquor, and not for either beer or red wine. That red wine just keeps looking like the stuff to drink! (LOE = 2b)

Li S, Cho E, Drucker AM, Qureshi AA, Li WQ. Alcohol intake and risk of rosacea in US women. Acad Dermatol 2017;76(6):1061-1067.  [PMID:28434611]

Cohort (prospective)

Government

Population-based

These investigators analyzed data obtained from the well-known Nurses' Health Study II on alcohol use and the risk of clinician-diagnosed rosacea. Information was collected from 1991 through June 2005. Multiple adjustments occurred for potential confounders, including smoking, oral contraceptive use, cumulative ultraviolet exposure, and history of major chronic disease. A total of 82,737 women met the inclusion criteria and provided 1,120,050 person-years of follow-up. Compared with never drinkers, increased alcohol intake was significantly associated with an elevated risk of rosacea in a dose-dependent, linear relationship (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.20 for alcohol intake 1-4 g/day; HR = 1.19, 1.08-1.31 for 5-9 g/day; HR = 1.37, 1.20-1.56 for 15-29 g/day; and HR = 1.53, 1.26-1.84 for 30 g/day or more). A 4-ounce glass of wine or 1-ounce glass of liquor is equivalent to 12 grams of alcohol. Specifically, white wine and liquor were associated with a significant increased risk of rosacea; red wine and beer were not. There was no effect modification by smoking status on the association between alcohol intake and risk of rosacea.