Dry skin, acne, rashes, and dark circles or puffiness in the morning can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Drinking too much alcohol affects the appearance of the skin and causes other skin problems. Below are early signs of the effects of alcohol on the skin before it causes irreversible damage to the body.
Dehydrated skin
Alcohol has a diuretic effect. Therefore, drinking a lot of alcohol or beer can increase urine production, causing dehydration and drying out skin cells, leading to wrinkles. The most noticeable example is crow's feet around the eyes.
Dark circles under the eyes
Alcohol disrupts circadian rhythms and sleep quality, causing drinkers to sleep less. This affects the recovery phase during sleep and leads to dark circles under the eyes and facial puffiness in the morning.
Alcohol makes skin dry, dull, and more prone to wrinkles. (Image: Freepik)
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition where skin cells accumulate and form dry, itchy patches. Regularly consuming large amounts of alcohol can worsen the condition, especially in men.
Having lots of pimples
The sugar in alcoholic beverages activates the hormone IGF-1, causing the skin to produce more oil, increasing the risk of acne. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to increased inflammation and hormonal changes in the skin, exacerbating acne and rosacea.
Some studies suggest that alcohol may increase the risk of rosacea in people who do not already have the condition.
Rash
Red, itchy bumps on the skin can appear when drinking alcohol. The rash may last for a few minutes or a few days. Sometimes they are a symptom of alcohol intolerance or the result of an allergic reaction to a component in alcohol. Applying a cool compress and using over-the-counter antihistamines can help reduce this condition.
Cellulitis
Drinking excessive alcohol can cause cellulitis, a type of bacterial skin infection that commonly affects the lower legs. Bacteria enter the body through cuts or wounds in the skin and cause the affected area to become red, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch.
Increased risk of skin cancer
Alcohol weakens the immune system, reducing the body's natural defenses against disease. Some evidence also suggests that drinking alcohol may exacerbate the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin, causing more damage than usual.
In addition to increasing the risk of liver, pancreatic, and breast cancer, alcohol also increases the risk of skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Everyone should drink plenty of water after drinking to prevent dehydration. Supplementing with vitamins A, C, E, B1, B6, B2, B3 and omega 3 helps keep skin, hair, and nails healthy and repairs skin damage.
Experts recommend that men should drink a maximum of two units of alcohol per day, and women a maximum of one unit. According to the World Health Organization, one unit of alcohol is equivalent to one 100ml glass of wine (13.5% alcohol content), one 330ml glass of beer, or one 30ml shot of spirits (40% alcohol content).
Huyen My (According to WebMD, Telegraph )
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