A hangover is more than a temporary headache. In fact, long-term consumption of alcohol can leave unsightly and lasting effects on the skin. If you want to keep your skin looking youthful and healthy for years to come, take it from your men’s grooming experts here at 18|8 Brookhaven and keep alcohol intake to a minimum. Here’s how drinking affects your skin in the short and long-term.
Immediate Effects
For some, alcohol causes an immediate reaction on the skin known as transient flushing, or rosy cheeks. This occurs when histamine is released as a result of drinking, producing symptoms similar to an allergic reaction: swelling, redness, and irritation. Even minimal amounts of alcohol can trigger this reaction in some people.
Short-Term Effects
After your buzz has worn off, you may find yourself wondering why it looks like you aged ten years overnight. This happens for two reasons. First, drinking alcohol dehydrates the body. On skin, dehydration can look like dryness, dullness, and flaking. Next, because the body tries to compensate by retaining water, you’ll also notice bloating. This is known as edema and usually occurs around the eyes.
Long-Term Effects
Long-term consumption of more than two drinks per day can wreak havoc on your skin and trigger premature aging. By constantly robbing your skin of vital water and nutrients, you can expect wrinkles to appear much faster than they would normally. Long-term drinking can also lead to broken capillaries and even rosacea.
What You Can Do
Although it may not sound like fun, the easiest thing you can do to avoid the effects of drinking on your skin is to cut back on alcohol consumption. Limit yourself to two drinks per day. If you do go overboard, you can help your skin out by drinking plenty of water and limiting sodium intake.
Of course, you can always contact your local men’s salon after a rough night for a cleansing and rejuvenating facial to keep your skin looking good and keep you feeling great.
