+ How does alcohol affect your skin? Long and short-term effects vatiz 2021.08.04 Estimates suggest up to 25% of chronic itch cases relate to alcohol misuse. Alcohol abuse causes the body to be unable to metabolize certain substances such as bile salts, corticosteroids, and histamine. The build-up of these substances causes generalized skin itching, which can lead to irritation, inflammation, and rashes. Some apparent allergic reactions to alcohol are due to inherited defects i... Read More..