We’re all guilty of it. A stressful day at the office means a couple of cocktails with the crew after work. It happens in How I Met Your Mother all the time; they’re seldom seen together outside of the bar.

While you may feel like you're relieving stress and having some harmless fun, you could be putting your skin through a lot more than you think (if these sessions take place regularly). In the real world, alcohol isn’t so great for your skin, especially if you consume at least one drink daily, on average (for men, it’s 2).

Alcohol decreases your skin’s ability to produce new cells

Alcohol destroys the body’s supply of vitamin A, which serves as a defense against bacteria and other infections. Vitamin A is also used by your skin to replace old, dead cells with healthy new ones. A decrease in vitamin A will cause your skin’s cell-turnover rate to slow, leaving your skin in subpar shape.

Alcohol can cause facial flushing

Even though it’s often called “Asian Flush” because over one-third of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans are affected, it’s not an exclusive club. When consuming alcohol causes your face to flush, the trigger is in your genetics (thanks, Mom!) and can affect any race.

Most people have enzymes that break down alcohol and its byproduct, acetaldehyde, as they consume it. Those who suffer from facial flushing are lacking specific enzymes in charge of breaking down the alcohol. Side effects? Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Flushing may also be an indicator of increased risk for throat cancer.

Alcohol can amplify rosacea and other skin conditions

While rosacea is not the result of excessive drinking (contrary to popular belief!), it is definitely amplified by consuming alcohol. Having merely one alcoholic beverage a day is all it takes in some sufferers to cause a flare-up. In a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society, 52 percent of 1,066 rosacea patients were affected by alcohol consumption. Their top alcoholic beverage culprits? Wine and beer.

Alcohol can aggravate acne

Alcohol can shrink the face’s pores and make them more prone to clogging. The buildup of oils will cause acne, or possibly aggravate preexisting acne. Fermented alcohols are more acidic than distilled drinks, so especially avoid wine and beer if you don’t want to make your acne worse.

Alcohol causes an early emergence of fine lines and wrinkles and can cause capillaries to break

Drinking excessively causes major dehydration. If your skin isn’t properly hydrated, it will begin to wrinkle. Alcohol also prevents your body from absorbing key vitamins to keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant (such as vitamin A). Collagen, which is in charge of keeping your wrinkles at bay, is also eventually destroyed by alcohol.

According to a University of Maryland Medical Center study, excessive and repetitive consumption of alcohol increases the risks of capillaries bursting. If capillaries burst, more water enters the skin, which then leads to puffiness and eventual skin sagging.

Alcohol and its overall effects on your skin should not be taken lightly! While a drink or two here and there may not affect you, a habitual pattern of daily drinking is detrimental to your health--and beauty!

Catherine Saunders is a staff writer and researcher at EndlessBeauty.com.