Is Alcohol Ruining Your Skin? 5 Tips to Reduce the Damage

However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, drinking alcohol can increase a person’s risk of developing it. Yes, alcohol can accelerate the aging process by damaging collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, which can lead to wrinkles, sagging, and other signs of aging. It can also cause oxidative stress, which can further damage the skin’s cells. While it’s best to limit alcohol consumption for the sake of your overall health, there are steps you can take to protect your skin while drinking alcohol. Psoriasis is another skin condition that has been linked to alcohol consumption. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, scaly patches on the skin.

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In short, consuming whiskey, vodka, rum, beer, wine, or other spirits can take a toll on your skin health. Ahead, see six ways it can harm your skin, as well as some preventive measures you can take to prevent the risk of long-term damage. “Alcohol doesn’t just impact your liver; it’s one of skin’s biggest enemies. It dehydrates your cells, depletes vital nutrients, and triggers inflammation, leading to dullness, enlarged pores, and accelerated aging,” says Sonali Kohli, MD, a consultant dermatologist Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.

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Get articles and stories about health, wellness, medicine, science and education delivered right to your inbox from the experts at Ohio State. The saying ‘you are what you eat’ especially rings true when it comes to body odor. Depending on what you eat or drink and your personal body chemistry, it could produce a rather unpleasant order. Many people can hide a problem with alcohol or drug misuse for many years.

• “Dehydrated skin needs to be treated from within, and plain and simple water is your best option,” explains Faye.
• Stress can have a negative impact on your skin health and contribute to various skin conditions.
• The high levels of sugar in certain cocktails can cause spikes in insulin levels, which in turn can increase oil production in your body and lead to clogged pores, thereby furthering the risk of having breakouts like acne.
• Alcohol is a vasodilator, which causes blood vessels to expand and can lead to a temporary flushing of the skin (especially on your face).

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The more dehydrated you are, the more sullen and dry your skin appears; it even becomes prone to wrinkles and other fine lines. Additionally, excess drinking leads to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin, proteins responsible for its elasticity and firmness. This can also be held responsible for the development of wrinkles and sagging. If a person drinks alcohol regularly, the short-term effects, such as dry skin and flushing, are more likely to become a persistent problem. Alcohol can cause dehydration, inflammation, and damage to the skin’s barrier function, leading to premature aging, acne, and other skin problems.

• Alcohol can have a variety of effects on our appearance, from the way your skin and eyes look, to your weight and body odour.
• Harsh skincare ingredients like alcohol can increase this response, causing a more pronounced outbreak that requires medical attention.
• As mentioned above by Dr. Kohli, every glass of alcohol reduces vitamin A, which is a crucial nutrient for skin renewal and collagen production.

More importantly, this flushing is of concern as it is linked to an increased risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer due to alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking can make you more likely to get cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that usually affects your lower legs. Alcohol might make you drowsy and help you fall asleep faster, but you may not stay that way. It breaks up your normal sleep rhythms and can make you restless throughout the night.

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If you consume alcohol without sufficiently hydrating yourself (for example, having a glass of water between alcoholic drinks), your body will become dehydrated. This problem is often passed down in families, but alcohol use can also trigger it. Your skin may wound easily, itch, and turn red when you’re in the sun. Alcohol is a vasodilator, which causes blood vessels to expand and can lead to a temporary flushing of the skin (especially on your face).

What Alcohols in Skin Care Are Bad for the Skin?

So it’s hard to predict who might actually benefit and who may be harmed more than helped by alcohol consumption. And the balance of risk and benefit likely varies from person to person, based on individual factors such as genetics and lifestyle factors. By stopping your alcohol consumption, you can reduce the symptoms of these conditions or heal them altogether. Over several days to 1 does alcohol ruin your skin year, your skin will become brighter, firmer and healthier. Six months to 1 year after quitting drinking, your skin will have fully recovered. The exception is in cases of liver damage; skin conditions caused by a damaged liver may be permanent.

Repairing Skin Damage from Alcohol

Changes to the skin can be more serious and last longer if a person regularly consumes alcohol. Listening to addiction recovery podcasts can provide inspiration, motivation, and a sense drug addiction of community during your recovery journey. So yes, when it comes to daily struggles like irritated skin, even stars like Scarlett Johansson are just like you.