How beer and alcohol damage the skin

Regular consumption of beer and alcohol accelerates skin aging, causes dryness and dullness, increases the risk of acne and inflammation, and makes the skin more vulnerable to damage from ultraviolet rays.

Pharmacist Do Xuan Hoa, from the Medical Information Center at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that alcohol and beer cause the body to dehydrate quickly, leading to dry and dull skin, suppressing the immune system, increasing inflammatory responses, and forming inflammatory acne. These beverages also make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, accelerating the aging process.

Dehydration : Skin becomes severely dehydrated and loses its youthful appearance after drinking beer or alcohol due to increased water excretion from the body. Immediate symptoms include dryness, dullness, reduced elasticity, and chapped lips.

Skin redness : A reaction that occurs when drinking a lot of beer or alcohol is skin redness or a rash. This is a sign of vasodilation, leading to increased blood flow near the skin's surface. Alcohol also increases the risk of capillary rupture, causing red spots and patchy, spiderweb-like discoloration to appear.

Inflamed acne and rashes : Accumulated alcohol poisons the liver. The liver cannot eliminate the toxins quickly enough, causing inflammatory reactions to worsen, leading to inflamed acne and rashes.

Premature aging : Alcohol can reduce vitamin levels, especially vitamins A and C, disrupting collagen production. A collagen deficiency affects the skin's underlying structure, leading to signs of aging such as wrinkles, crow's feet, dark spots, age spots, and freckles.

Beer and alcohol can dry out the skin and affect collagen production. (Image: Freepik) — Beer and alcohol can dry out the skin and affect collagen production. (Image: *Freepik)*

Dark circles under the eyes : Beer and alcohol affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, causing insomnia and poor sleep quality. Reduced sleep quality increases cortisol levels – one of the causes of collagen breakdown, leading to loss of skin firmness and elasticity. Another consequence is the appearance of dark circles around the eyes.

Increased risk of skin cancer : Alcohol makes the skin more sensitive to environmental factors, increasing the risk of cancer. The skin is more vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, antioxidant levels decrease, and DNA is affected.

To keep skin healthy, according to pharmacist Xuan Hoa, everyone should minimize their alcohol intake, apply sunscreen to protect their skin from the effects of ultraviolet rays, and follow daily skincare routines including makeup removal and moisturizing.

Building a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients supports skin improvement from within. Pharmacist Hoa added that natural nutrients such as collagen, sakura cherry blossom extract, l-glutathione, pomegranate, P. leucotomos fern, white peony... can help nourish the skin, reduce wrinkles, and prevent acne.

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