Could these boozy sins be the the cause of your breakouts?
You might reconsider that third glass of rosé after reading this! This is the effect alcohol really has on your skin
Over-indulged during the festive season? We love a bottle of bubbly as much as the next person, but when you’re drinking night after night, your skin can really start to suffer.
Alcohol is one of the worst things for breakouts and skin irritation. As much as we love it, here’s why it might be time to (reluctantly) put down that glass of Champers.
Here are five surprising effects alcohol has on skin.
#1. It dehydrates your skin AND cause premature ageing
Alcohol is incredibly dehydrating for both your body, and for your skin. Not only is alcohol a diuretic forcing the water out of your body, it also makes it much more difficult to rehydrate afterwards, so you’ll be left with dry, flaky skin. That’s not all — it ages you too! Because of the lack of fluid in your skin — alcohol actually takes all the fluid out of the skin — your fine lines and wrinkles will be much more prominent.
#2. It causes breakouts
Have you noticed you get more breakouts than normal after a night drinking? You can blame that on the alcohol. Alcoholic drinks tend to be high in sugar — white wine and cocktails are particularly bad for this. Alcohol dries the skin, and when it’s dry, the immune system kicks in, If you're overindulging too often, you’re much more prone to blemishes. The sugar in alcohol can literally crystallise your skin cells (glycation), leading to less plump, supple cells and a duller complexion.
#3. It disrupts your hormones
Sugar in alcohol can initiate an insulin response — elevated insulin can have a negative affect on thyroid and sex hormones, causing hormonal imbalance and skin problems.
#4. It causes inflammation and puffiness
Alcohol also has an inflammatory effect on the body. Drinking alcohol brings the blood up to the tissue, which in turn causes inflammation. This is harmful to the skin, and can result in blotchiness, redness, puffiness, breakouts and dehydration.
#5. It can cause further irritation and flare-ups
Anyone who already suffers with acne, eczema or rosacea are at risk of further flare-ups when they drink. Alcohol can deplete healthy levels of important bacteria that live in our gut — the microbiome. The microbiome helps to regulate the immune system, which is important at managing inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. When you drink, it weakens your immune system, putting you more at risk of skin reactions and irritation.
If you suffer with any skin condition, we advise to drink in moderation to prevent any further flare-ups.
Loved our advice on the effects alcohol has on skin? We've got plenty more women's health and beauty advice on our Health & Wellness Edit, guaranteed to give your body a well-deserved boost. Suffer with breakouts? Here are 11 skincare mistakes that could be seriously damaging your skin. Is your lady V giving you grief? Here's how to keep your vagina healthy and happy.
