How does drinking affect your skin?

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Any esthetician or dermatologist will tell you that the secret to beautiful skin is to stay away from alcoholic beverages like wine or beer. All alcohol-containing products dehydrate the skin, which means graying and aging skin. Read more below to find out how drinking affects your skin!

1. What effect does alcohol have on your skin?

Your skin reflects your liver. The liver is the body's metabolic factory and produces energy to maintain the thousands of functions performed by all of the body's cells. For example, your hair follicles need energy to grow shiny hair and your skin cells need energy to remove toxins and repair and regenerate themselves. Your heart needs energy to efficiently pump blood to your skin to maintain collagen production and deliver oxygen to your cells to protect them from aging. If your liver isn't doing its job of breaking down toxins efficiently, they must be eliminated from your body by other means - in many cases, they come out through your skin!
In addition to the daily skin care steps, you also need to grasp the harmful effects of daily foods and drinks to the skin. Otherwise, the effort and money that you have spent on taking care of and protecting your skin will "fall into the sea".
Most of us have an occasional morning with a puffy, dry face (along with other symptoms of that dreaded hangover). But if drunken nights have become a regular part of your routine, here's what you should know about your drinking and your skin.

2. How will drinking alcohol affect your skin?

We all know that drinking alcohol is not good for us. But what does alcohol do to your skin? To answer this question, we'll need to look at the full range of harmful effects alcohol has on your body.
2.1. Alcohol makes you dark circles Alcohol can make you drowsy and help you fall asleep faster, and vice versa. It disrupts your normal sleep patterns and can keep you up at night. That often leads to dark circles under your eyes. Cold compresses can be very helpful, but the best answer is getting a good night's sleep. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
2.2. Puffy eyes and swelling A night of drinking can leave you feeling swollen all over. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can make your eyes puffy. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Alcohol can also irritate the lining of your stomach. That can lead to a swollen, bloated abdomen. The solution: Drink less alcohol, drink more water, and try an over-the-counter gas remedy.
2.3. Skin aging quickly When you drink alcohol, beer, you have to go to the toilet more than usual. This causes the body to easily lose water, causing the skin to dry out as well. Lack of moisture balance also slows down collagen production. As a result, skin aging will take place faster. Wrinkles will also gradually become more obvious.
2.4. Causes Acne: Alcohol stimulates the production of cytokines that lead to inflammation that causes acne to appear on the skin of the face. Alcohol also causes blood vessels to dilate. Therefore, those who are suffering from acne will be more prone to redness and swelling if they drink a lot of alcohol and beer. Besides, alcoholic drinks will damage the liver. If the liver is weakened, the ability to regulate hormones and filter out toxins will also decrease. Acne is formed from these toxins.

2.5. Rosacea If your face turns red from drinking alcohol, you may have some degree of rosacea (redness of the skin). This common skin condition causes your face — especially your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead — to turn red. Drinking alcohol can sometimes trigger a flare-up of rosacea. Some research shows that alcohol can increase your odds of getting rosacea if you haven't been drinking.
2.6. Cellulitis Drinking a lot of alcohol can make you more susceptible to cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that often affects your lower legs. It causes the skin there to be red, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch. The bacteria enter your body through a cut or wound in your skin. Infections are often serious. You will need to be treated with antibiotics.
2.7. Sensitivity to the sun For some people, the sun causes burning, blistering, and pain. This problem is often passed down in families, but alcohol use can also cause it. Your skin can get sore, itchy, and red easily when you're in the sun. To ease your symptoms, stop using alcohol and stay out of direct sunlight.
2.8. Psoriasis Regular heavy drinking can lead to psoriasis, a condition in which skin cells build up and form dry, itchy patches. It can also make flare-ups worse, and especially so in men. It can make it difficult for some people to do their jobs and can be dangerous to mix with others.

2.9. Dandruff You may notice dandruff on your scalp or itchy patches of oily skin on other parts of your body. Doctors call this skin condition seborrheic dermatitis, and it's often a sign of immune system problems or a yeast infection in the body. For some people, drinking can cause flare-ups. Over-the-counter shampoos are a good first treatment option, but you'll likely need prescription medication.
2.10. Skin cancer Drinking alcohol has been linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus. Research shows that alcohol use may also be linked to the most common types of skin cancer. Your body works to reduce DNA damage caused by the sun, but alcohol can interfere with that process.
2.11. Runny, red nose Your nose may become red and stuffy or runny when you drink a beer or a glass of wine. This allergy-like reaction usually occurs within an hour of ingestion. This condition is common in people who have asthma, sinus disease, or problems with aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Your doctor can help you by slowly getting you used to aspirin, which will ease your symptoms.

3. What types of alcohol are the most harmful?

3.1. Cocktails Because cocktails often contain a mix of syrupy drinks and alcohol, they can be high in sugar — and all that added sugar can cause inflammation, accelerated aging, and acne. In addition, glucose and fructose can damage collagen in the skin in a way that is difficult for your body to repair.
So if you're worried about your skin, avoid cocktails as much as possible. Not drinking these beverages can help reduce some of the negative side effects that drinks have on your skin.
3.2. White Wine If you enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner every night, you may be wondering: Does drinking wine age your skin?
Like any wine, white wine is best enjoyed in moderation, especially if you want to keep your skin looking young. And although your favorite champagne may taste bland, it can contain significant amounts of sugar.
Also, white wine can cause blushing, and has even been linked to rosacea. Combined with the dehydrating and inflammatory effects of alcohol, this can lead to wrinkles and other skin problems over time.
3.3. Dark Wine Because bourbon and whiskey are strong, bold wines, they can cause a terrible morning tan (not to mention a horrible hangover!)
Dark wines contains compounds known as congeners, which are thought to cause hangovers worse than other alcohols. And these killer hangovers can amplify the dry, red, and puffy skin you're used to seeing after a night out.

4. How to protect your skin from alcohol damage

If you enjoy drinking from time to time, learning about the effects of alcohol on your skin can leave you feeling unsatisfied. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect your skin from the effects of all-night drinking.
4.1. Reduce your alcohol intake If you're concerned about the effects of alcohol on your skin, the best thing you can do is drink less.
In general, moderation is the golden rule. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), moderate drinking means up to one drink per day for women, or two drinks per day for men. But depending on your condition, you may choose to drink less than this.
4.2. Stay hydrated Staying hydrated is key to protecting yourself from damage caused by alcohol's effects on your skin. As discussed above, alcohol is a diuretic and can make you dry. Here are some tips to combat dehydration when you drink alcohol:
Avoid mixing alcohol with caffeine, as caffeine also has diuretic properties. Drink a glass of water between drinks. Consume electrolytes the next morning. 4.3. Choose Your Alcohol Wisely The alcohols that are the least harmful to the skin are lighter drinks with no additives, such as gin, vodka or tequila.
It is important to note that you cannot completely avoid the effects of alcohol consumption on your skin. But if you choose to drink alcohol, reducing your alcohol intake, choosing the right wine, and drinking plenty of water are the best ways to start.

5. What happens to your skin when you stop drinking?

Knowing what alcohol can do to your skin, you might wonder, “What happens when I stop drinking altogether? Will my skin bounce back? ”
While the answers to these questions may vary from person to person, here is a general progression of what might happen:
5.1. Stop drinking in the first week During the first week after your last drink, your skin can have many problems. Don't worry, though, after this time, your skin will usually begin to regain its healthy glow.
During this time, the redness and bruising caused by alcohol will subside, and the sunken eye area will plump again as your body is rehydrated.
5.2. Long-term alcohol cessation When you stop using alcohol, you're reducing chronic inflammation, dehydration and oxidative stress in your body - and that means dramatic changes to your skin over time. time.
Your skin will regain moisture and look more even. In addition, acne caused by sugary drinks will begin to disappear. In the long run, you will see a youthful, healthy face again.
Unfortunately, if you've been drinking heavily for a long time, some of the damage may be irreversible. In this case, try to cut down on alcohol as much as possible to help the skin recover.

Reference sources: webmd.com, riahealth.com