Rubbing alcohol safe to use for acne?

I've heard from my girlfriend and her mother that their 'secret' to relatively pure skin is to rub a small dose of rubbing alcohol on their face with a cotton ball when they break out, but they say doing it too much is bad. Is rubbing alcohol safe for your face?

[BeeFree]

My father used to do this as well. Alcohol is very drying and can irritate the skin. Very little amounts once in a while isn't harmful (after all, it is still used to disinfect cuts and bites, etc.) but refrain from using it as a regular acne treatment. There are gentler, more effective astringents and lotions designed for treating acne.