How Drinking Alcohol Affects Your Skin And Facial Appearance
Recent studies have shown that moderate drinking is good for your health, and drinking a glass of wine or beer after a day of work is a common form of relaxation. However, too much alcohol can not only make you feel bad, it can also affect your appearance.
Excessive alcohol may age the skin. The three biggest negative impacts as below:
Dehydration
Almost 50% of the human body consists of water. Because the skin is the body's largest organ, if there is not enough water, it can not play a normal barrier protective function, or appear healthy and vibrant. Healthy looking skin needs a good balance of moisture, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated. Think of water as an internal moisturizer, which you should apply continuously throughout the day. Alcohol can dehydrate your body, pulling moisture out of the skin, along with the vital nutrients your skin needs to keep it healthy. When skin becomes too dry, it is more likely to wrinkle, and can make you appear older than you actually are.
Blood Vessel Dilation
When you drink alcohol, the blood vessels beneath the surface of your skin will dilate, causing redness or flushing and worsening the appearance of spider veins. For those who abuse alcohol, this effect can become permanent, giving a very uneven, unhealthy-looking complexion.
Pre-Existing Skin Conditions
There are several dermatologic conditions that can be aggravated by the consumption of alcohol including rosacea and psoriasis. Drinking alcohol can cause symptom flare-ups making these chronic diseases more difficult to treat. Minimizing your consumption of alcohol should be part of your regime for managing any pre-existing skin condition.
All in all, reducing alcohol consumption will result in better skin. If you have consumed an excess amount of alcohol, you can attempt to counteract the ill-effects on your skin. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body both during and post alcohol consumption, which will in turn rehydrate your skin. Ensure to thoroughly cleanse your skin, and nourish it with a good quality moisturizer as well as daily sun screen. Consumption of alcohol can also lead to other unhealthy habits like smoking and consumption of junk food, which can also have a negative impact on the appearance of the skin. Instead of turning to junk food the morning after the party, you should concentrate on eating nutritious food which will provide your skin with the essential nutrients it needs to look bright and healthy again.
The best way to avoid long-term and short-term damage to your skin is to stay low or moderate in alcohol consumption.
