Could Alcohol, Acids, and Retinoids Be Increasing Your Skin Cancer Risk?
By Marzia Rahmani, Founder of Real Skin Retinue
For decades, we’ve trusted exfoliating acids and retinoids to deliver smoother, clearer, younger-looking skin. We've also overlooked how social drinking and sunny holidays interact with these skincare favourites. But what if the combination of alcohol, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), retinoids, and unprotected sun exposure is quietly increasing our long-term skin cancer risk?
As a professional with over 20 years in skincare, and as someone who deeply values the connection between internal and external health, I believe this is a question worth asking—boldly, publicly, and without hesitation.
The Compounding Risks We Don't Talk About
Each of these elements on their own—alcohol, exfoliating acids, and retinoids—affect the skin in distinct ways:
-
Alcohol is a known carcinogen. It dehydrates the skin, suppresses immune function, and reduces our ability to repair sun-induced DNA damage. (IARC Monographs, WHO)
-
AHAs like glycolic acid exfoliate the top layer of skin, increasing photosensitivity and reducing the skin’s natural UV defense. (FDA Consumer Health Info)
-
Retinoids, while effective at cellular renewal, make skin more vulnerable to the sun and require disciplined use of SPF. (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
Individually, these may seem manageable. But combined—especially with inconsistent sun protection—they present a scenario few are talking about: cumulative, compounding, and possibly cancer-contributing.
Why Melanated Skin Is Especially at Risk
As a woman of colour, I understand how pigment-rich skin can behave differently. It’s often more prone to hyperpigmentation and slower to heal from inflammation. When you combine acids and sun exposure in melanated skin—especially with alcohol’s systemic stress—the barrier damage can be more pronounced, and the risks, arguably, more serious.
Where Science Meets Common Sense
We already know chronic inflammation, DNA damage, and oxidative stress are key drivers in cancer development. What’s missing is a conversation about how our skincare choices and lifestyle habits—especially when layered—might contribute to that process.
I’m not suggesting fear-based messaging. I’m suggesting informed, preventative dialogue.
A Call for Professional Reassessment
If we claim to be serious about skin health, we must also take seriously the hidden risks of stacking alcohol, AHAs, retinoids, and sun exposure. We need:
-
Better consumer education
-
Clearer SPF compliance messaging
-
Product routines that support—not sabotage—the skin barrier
-
Caution with clients who use photosensitising medications
Final Thoughts
As the founder of Real Skin Retinue, I created Savef Skin Essential Face Serum not to follow trends, but to question them. To build safer, barrier-friendly formulas that prioritise photoprotection and autophagy support, rather than triggering unnecessary exfoliation cycles.
If we know alcohol damages nearly every organ in the body, why are we so reluctant to question its effect when combined with skin-sensitising topicals?
Let this be the start of that conversation.
Marzia Rahmani
Founder, Real Skin Retinue
Professional Skincare Expert | Skin of Colour Advocate | Author
Explore skin health with science, safety, and self-awareness.
Discover more: www.realskinretinue.com
Formulated with ceramides, peptides, photoprotective antioxidants and cholesterol to support skin health through fasting and beyond.
