The Effect Of Alcohol On Appearance

In the pursuit of clean, elastic and radiant skin , we buy new cosmetic products, go to various procedures and learn the beauty secrets of the stars. The desire to find some special recipe for beauty seems so comprehensive that it often makes us forget about time-tested, but such banal methods. They are known to everyone: get enough sleep, spend more time in the fresh air, avoid stress and foods that cause inflammation, properly cleanse the skin. Not the last item on this list should be the refusal of alcohol , but few people will like it. You want to believe that a glass of Rose Brut or Whiskey Sour after a hard day or week won't change anything. However, facts are a stubborn thing, because it is better to be aware of how alcohol affects the appearance. Moreover, with age, this influence becomes more and more noticeable. At the age of 20, alcohol is completely excreted from the body in an average of 3 hours, and after 40, the body needs several times more time for this.

Being informed is useful because it allows you to make an informed choice. Even if it is difficult to give up the pleasure of relaxing with a glass of alcohol , you can at least try to minimize its negative consequences. And this, in addition to everything else, is the acceleration of the aging process. New York nutritionist Jairo Rodriguez jokes with his clients: "If you want to get older, go ahead and drink!"

Science - about the influence of alcohol

The effect of alcohol on the skin is the subject of many scientific studies. In 2016, the "Journal of Epidemiology and General Health Care" published the results of long-term observations of people with the aim of identifying the connection between alcohol consumption and appearance . Between 1976 and 2003, Danish scientists collected information on 11,613 volunteers to determine how alcohol affects the appearance of 4 age - related signs: senile arc - a gray opaque circle around the cornea, folds on the earlobe, plaques on the eyelids, male pattern baldness type

It turned out that excessive alcohol consumption by women (more than 28 alcoholic drinks per week) is associated with a higher probability (by 33%) of the appearance of senile arc on the cornea and folds on the earlobe. At the same time, alcohol does not directly affect the formation of other signs of aging (plaques on the eyelids and baldness) . The comparison was made with respect to women who drink less than 7 alcoholic beverages per week.

The effect of alcohol on appearance

Does this mean that moderate alcohol consumption has no consequences for appearance ? No. It is not for nothing that many celebrities, who in their youth were fans of loud parties, completely give up alcohol at the age of 35+ . Brooke Shields in one of the interviews called alcohol one of the reasons that make her older by 5-10 years. The reason is that over the years, a seemingly safe glass of champagne does not affect the face in the best way.

Effect of alcohol on metabolism

Alcohol contains no nutrients. However, in the process of metabolism of alcohol , the body has to spend important nutrients. Scientists from Columbia University found that drinkers have a significantly reduced level of vitamin A in the body . This trace element is an important antioxidant and plays a huge role in cell regeneration. Aging of the skin begins where its cells cannot maintain normal density and thickness. Gradually , the skin becomes thinner, duller and defenseless against aggressive external factors, such as ultraviolet light, urban polluted air, and tobacco smoke.

A decrease in the level of vitamin A negatively affects the formation of collagen, which makes the skin firm, elastic and tight. At the same time, alcohol drinkers are exposed to another factor that reduces collagen production. Sugar, which is abundant in wine and cocktails, causes glycation, an unpleasant process that triggers a reaction between carbohydrates and proteins, as well as lipids and nucleic acids. As a result, there is a reduction in collagen production, which leads to premature aging and early wrinkles.

Changes also occur in the synthesis of vitamins E and C (tocopherol and ascorbic acid), which are the main builders of the collagen framework of our skin . As a result, the face floats: the oval becomes less and less clear, lumps and a second chin appear prematurely.

Alcohol is a powerful diuretic - its deactivation requires a lot of fluid in the liver. This means that it literally displaces water from our body . The human body needs to maintain a water balance for normal functioning. Unfortunately, we often forget about the golden rule of 2 liters of water per day. And at the party, we generally mention water last. Therefore, it is quite natural that the morning after the celebration, the skin looks dry and dull, sometimes peels (especially around the lips), and wrinkles become more noticeable.

To date, there is no evidence of a direct link between alcohol consumption and the appearance of acne. Nevertheless, in various sources there is enough information about the clear dependence between these two phenomena. This can be explained by the effect of alcohol on the hormonal system , and hormones are one of the main causes of acne. It is known that after the consumption of alcohol in women there is an increased formation of the male hormone testosterone. As a reaction to the growth of testosterone, the body starts the production of androgens, to which the sebaceous glands are very sensitive. What provokes hormonal rashes.

Another cause of acne can be suppression of the immune system, which helps keep bacteria under control. And, of course, stress, which people often drink alcohol and which has a direct effect on the endocrine system. The combination of 2 factors - stress and alcohol - also leads to the appearance of acne.

Surprisingly, on the one hand, alcohol dehydrates the skin , and on the other hand, it provokes swelling. This happens due to the distribution of liquid: alcohol molecules from the bloodstream penetrate into soft tissues. At the same time, each molecule of alcohol carries with it several molecules of water, which accumulate under the skin . Such a reaction occurs throughout the body, but the most obvious are swellings on the face and near the eyes - on the thin skin of the eyelids and under the eyes. A sufficient amount of clean water and lymphatic drainage massage will help to get rid of morning swelling.

Scientists from Brown University found that alcohol consumption , particularly white wine and liquor, contributes to a high risk of developing rosacea. The risk increases as the amount of alcohol consumed increases . This is due to the fact that alcohol weakens the immune system and dilates blood vessels. Over time, a charming light blush risks turning into couperosis - a vascular network on the cheeks, chin and wings of the nose, which is difficult to correct even in the cosmetologist's office. Scientists also note that red wine, which has anti-inflammatory properties, contains substances histamine and resveratrol, which also cause redness. The effect is more noticeable if people already have couperosis.

Redness, spots on the skin after alcohol are perceived by many as completely natural. However, everything is not so simple. If you blush during or after drinking alcohol , you should take this seemingly cosmetic reaction seriously. In this way, your body makes it clear that it is not absorbing alcohol efficiently enough. Alcoholic beverages during metabolismare converted to acetaldehyde. When the body is unable to absorb this compound, the blood capillaries on the face expand, which leads to an alcoholic blush. And all would be nothing, if not for a study by scientists from Cambridge, published in 2018 in the journal Nature. There it is said that adult men and women prone to reddening of the face when consuming alcoholic beverages are 4 times more vulnerable to DNA damage after even one dose of alcohol . Why, you should think and take into account the recommendations for reducing the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages , which you will find below.