Alcohol dehydrates your body, including the skin – and this happens every time you drink. When you drink, the dehydrating (or 'diuretic') effect of alcohol means your skin loses fluid and nutrients that are vital for healthy-looking skin. This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and grey, or bloated and puffy.
As it turns out, bacteria, inflammation, excess oil production, and clogged pores are the true culprits behind all those blemishes. But alcohol can trigger many skin conditions, “including acne, psoriasis, and rosacea,” says Rachel Nazarian, M.D., F.A.A.D., a dermatologist practicing in New York City.
In the short term, drinking alcohol can cause dry skin, flushing, dark circles, and decreased elasticity. Prolonged alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder can lead to or aggravate a variety of skin conditions. Eliminating alcohol from a person's diet and lifestyle should help the skin to clear up.
Hydration is the number one way to reverse alcohol skin damage and keep your skin nice and glowy.
Dehydration can sap your skin of moisture and elasticity, leading to sagginess, dryness, and wrinkles. In other words, alcohol use can make you look old. Moreover, the older you get, the more likely you are to be dehydrated. Even one night of heavy drinking can make your lines and wrinkles look more pronounced.
With on-time alcohol detox, you can get your health back on track. The skin will look younger, with fewer wrinkles, puffiness, and flare-ups. You will have an easier time losing weight and getting rid of the bad smell. Most importantly, you will give your eyes a new start.
When you drink, the dehydrating (or 'diuretic') effect of alcohol means your skin loses fluid and nutrients that are vital for healthy-looking skin. This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and grey, or bloated and puffy. Dehydrated skin may also be more prone to some types of eczema.
Most people who give up alcohol notice that their skin is dewy, and healthier looking after just one week. By the end of Dry January, you're likely to see less swelling, clearer skin, and an overall healthy glow.
"It takes approximately 28 days for your skin to renew itself", says Imogen. "This process varies from person to person and is age dependent, so to see a difference in the condition of your skin you would need to give up drinking for at least a month to see an improvement."
Alcohol can cause water retention in your face. This makes your face look bloated and puffy.
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including: High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
One of the physical characteristics of someone who is a heavy drinker is bloodshot eyes. This change in appearance is due to alcohol abuse swelling the tiny blood vessels in the eye, enlarging their appearance and making the eyeball look red.
The primary feature of the alcohol flush reaction is a red face—or flush—but it can also be accompanied by hives, nausea, low blood pressure, the worsening of asthma, or an episode of migraine. Of particular significance, the alcohol flush reaction is linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer.
The result is redness and a bright ruddy complexion, which may not go away. Drinking in moderation can help, though abstinence is best. Alcohol over a period of years will steadily destroy collagen, which is what gives our skin its smooth elasticity.
Make sure to carefully remove any makeup. Then, apply a rich, deep-hydrating moisturizer and eye cream. In addition to jump-starting the rehydration process, the moisturizer will also help to soothe skin and reduce inflammation.”
Wine is known for its magical powers on your skin. This alcohol is best used for removing dead skin cells and fighting pigmentations. It boosts the blood circulation and repairs the damaged skin cells. Not only this, drinking wine gives your skin the blinding glow from within.
'Wine face' typically happens to those who consume one or two glasses of wine most nights of the week. However it can be triggered by consuming any kind of alcohol. Alcohol is dehydrating to skin, so it can make fine lines and wrinkles look worse.
What does alcohol do to your hair? Alcohol and hair do not get along. Over time, alcohol use can cause dry, brittle, breaking hair, and cause excessive hair loss. The combination of dehydration and malnutrition makes it hard for your body to rebuild your hair and function at its best.
Hydrate from the outside in. It will take some time to rehydrate your skin by drinking water, so you'll also want to combat dehydration from the outside as well. Skincare products containing hyaluronic acid are a good choice to help hydrate skin after drinking alcohol.
Overall benefits of three weeks without alcohol
Clear skin. More energy. Improved gym performance. Reduced anxiety and improved mood.
Week three of giving up alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can cause your blood pressure to rise over time. After 3-4 weeks of not drinking, your blood pressure will start to reduce. Reducing your blood pressure can be crucial as it can help to lessen the risk of health problems occurring in the future.
However, by day 4 without alcohol, most people will have got beyond any initial withdrawal symptoms. All the alcohol will have left your system by now, and your body will begin to bounce back. If you're not as focused on alcohol, you may be eating better, drinking water, moving more, and perhaps sleeping more deeply.
Does Alcohol Make You Look Older? Alcohol ages you, and a study determined that people who excessively drank alcohol were 33% more likely to have age-related gray or dark rings around their eyes. In addition, chronic drinking can lead to wrinkles and fine lines as well as damaged blood vessels.