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The skin is the body’s largest organ, so it makes sense bodily mistreatment through diet and lifestyle would show up on your skin. That’s right, your spots and wrinkles could be to do with what you’re consuming – including how much alcohol you’re drinking. Express.co.uk chatted to Dr Ioannis Liakas, Medical Director at Vie Aesthetics www.vie-aesthetics.com to find out how alcohol impacts the skin.
The average person has about 300 million skin cells, each and every one of them creating a barrier between your body and the outside world.
The skin’s function is to keep your body safe from physical injury, harmful bacteria and toxins, and to prevent loss of moisture.
That being said, you need to work with your skin to ensure it functions at its optimum, and indulging in too many boozy nights out will reduce your chances.
Dr Ioannis Liakas said: “Alcohol is a toxin with very little nutrient value and is known to negatively impact on the quality, appearance and ageing of your skin.
“From enlarged pores to redness, increased dryness, and dullness – excessive drinking is never good for maintaining your skin’s health at a high standard.”
Dr Liakas has revealed the four key signs on your skin that YOU’RE drinking too much alcohol.
Blackheads and whiteheads
If you can’t work out why your skin is full of blackheads and whiteheads, it might be to do with how much alcohol you’re consuming.
Dr Liakas said: “One of the main effects of drinking is the dehydration of the skin leaving it with a dry, parched surface longing for moisture from within.
“Dehydration due to alcohol can also dilate the pores of the skin, leading to an increase of blackheads and whiteheads.
“It is important to note that if this is not treated properly, it can lead to the onset of acne and rosacea.”
Alcohol is a diuretic and will make you lose moisture through urine, so cut back on alcohol and increase your water intake to around six to eight cups a day.
Dull skin
You may have seen products targeted towards ‘dull skin’, but do you actually know what that means?
Dull skin is the term for skin that lacks radiance and has an uneven tone or texture.
If this sounds familiar, it might be to do with how much alcohol you drink.
Dr Liakas said: “Excessive and consistent drinking is damaging in the long term, as it can also decrease cellular turnover and lead to an unhealthy, dull complexion, but it shows on your skin in the short term too.”
Redness
Alcohol has also been linked to inflammation, so if you have particularly red skin you might be able to blame alcohol.
Dr Liakas explained: “This is bad news when it comes to skin health since chronic inflammation has been linked to skin conditions and noticeable skin ageing.
“Extensive inflammation to the skin can create a reaction leading to the redness and flushing of the skin.
“If this becomes consistent, it can become prominently red and noticeably irritated.
“This is due to the alcohol causing blood vessels under the surface of the skin to widen, which allows more blood to flow, producing the tell-tale flushed colour in the skin.”
With prolonged alcohol consumption it may cause facial telangiectasia- fine thread veins on the nose and cheeks due to broken blood vessels.
The doctor added: “It is important to note that if this is not treated properly, it can lead to the onset of acne and rosacea.”
Pronounced wrinkles
When you’re hungover or if you drink too much on a regular basis, you may have noticed your skin ageing more quickly and visibly.
Dr Liakas said: “It is likely to appear dull and drier, wrinkles and lines are more pronounced, and especially the fine skin on the neck and decolletage can appear more aged and wrinklier due to the dehydration associated with drinking alcohol.
“With prolonged alcohol consumption the signs can be more severe, including redness, flushes and in some cases even presenting with facial telangiectasia- fine thread veins on nose and cheeks due to broken blood vessels.”
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