Drinking a glass of wine after work may work wonders for your mood but not so much for your skin. If your body cannot break down alcohol, you could be seeing red—in the mirror when you notice an alcohol flush reaction. Even moderate drinking can dehydrate you and cause premature wrinkles. Heavier drinking can leave you with permanent spider veins. If you want a healthy glow and you’re going to drink, make sure to drink a ton of water before and after you imbibe. Keep in mind these five ways that alcohol can hurt your skin.
- It can cause premature wrinkles.
Alcohol can etch your face with premature wrinkles because it dehydrates your skin. Skin looks parched when there’s less water in the body. Alcohol is a diuretic, and it causes you to urinate more, A few days after you stop drinking, you’ll notice your skin not only feels but looks more hydrated. Alcohol also lowers the body’s production of an antidiuretic hormone that helps your body reabsorb water.
- It drains vitamin A from your body.
Drinking depletes your body’s stash of vitamin A, which plays a vital role in cell regeneration and gives your skin a healthy glow. Vitamin A is responsible for stimulating fibroblasts—the cells in the deep layers of your skin responsible for developing tissue that keeps skin firm and healthy.
- It can cause inflammation.
If you see redness in your face after drinking alcohol, mostly likely your body cannot properly break down alcohol. This is called alcohol intolerance or an alcohol flush reaction. Drinking too much is known to cause chronic inflammation that results in facial redness. One of the earliest signs of alcohol abuse is a persistently red face due to enlarged blood vessels. This appears because regulation of vascular control in the brain fails with sustained alcohol intake. Although an allergy to alcohol is rare, it’s possible that an allergic reaction to alcohol will cause facial redness. Other ingredients commonly found in alcoholic beverages can trigger an allergic reaction.
- It can cause spider veins.
Alcohol dilates your blood vessels. and over-dilation can lead to permanent spider veins. Like other blood vessels, spider veins blanch when pressure is applied. Spider veins are given that name because of their appearance. Blood vessels radiate out in all directions from a central blood vessel. They are mostly frequently found on the face, the V of the neck, chest, arms, hands and abdomen.
- it causes facial bloat.
Alcohol can also cause your face to look bloated and puffy. When your body is starving for electrolytes, it hoards water. This causes tissues to swell. Alcohol also can cause gas to form in your digestive system. Trapped gas can build up pressure in your stomach and cause bloating and even pain. Your face is not the only place where you might see swelling. Many people believe the toxins in alcohol contribute to the build-up of cellulite.
