Likely the first thing people think of when asked how alcohol affects skin is acne. Whilest alcohol can indeed trigger a flare, in truth, alcohol doesn’t directly cause breakouts and it affects the skin in many other ways.
How alcohol affects hormones
Alcohol, in the short term, directly influences a number of hormones in the body; hormones related to inflammation, oil production, stress and immunity and this is a big part of why we see a range of skin changes and flares of conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis and acne.
How additives and flavourings trigger skin
Many of these effects are related to the alcohol in alcohol which is ethanol. It is important to not forget that there are also a lot of ‘hidden’ chemicals such as sulfites and other preservatives, tannins and colourants, which play a big role in flare ups of inflammatory skin conditions. These are likely the reason why, for those who are prone to skin issues, they seem ‘fine’ after a certain type of drink and not another. Many find they see less effects with biodynamic and natural wines, small batch products and those that only use natural flavourings.
Heading to the bathroom a lot after drinking?
Anyone who has had a heavy night out will recall the feeling of needing to head to the bathroom more often. This is because alcohol triggers the body to remove water at a faster rate. Unless you are religiously alternating alcoholic drinks with a large glass of water, likelihood is you will end up dehydrated at the end of the night. Whilst you may be aware of the impacts this has on your head the next day it also is one of the biggest issues for your skin.
Dehydrated skin looks lack lustre with lines and wrinkles appearing worsened, tone looking sallow and dull and under eyes can look more sunken. Even more than this is the reality that dehydrated skin is more unstable and prone to inflammation.
In reaction to this driness, your skin produces more oils, which in part contribute to acne flares in those who are prone. It is also common knowledge, that alcohol is converted to sugar in our bodies. This triggers hormone releases which too can promote oil production in the skin.
Alcohol can cause redness and flushing
Alcohol also increases blood flow to the skin. We see that as flushing, and this is more obvious in those who lack a particular enzyme involved in alcohol break down. This increased blood flow is part of a cascade of pro-inflammatory processes that happen in our body. When we are in a state of inflammation this can act as a trigger for other inflammatory skin conditions; acne, rosacea and other dermatitis issues being amongst them.
Poor sleep after alcohol affects skin
Another well recognised trigger for many of these inflammatory skin conditions is stress. Now whilst we may feel a good dance can help after an intense week the likely broken and restless sleep we experience after is actually increasing stress hormones. The lack of sleep will also worsen appearance of dark circles and limit the time the body has to repair the daily damage our skin sees.
Look after your gut microbiome
Finally, alcohol also can have a negative effect on our gut friendly bacteria. We now know that if we have a healthy gut our whole body reflects this, states of inflammation are reduced, and this is reflected in the skin.
Are alcohol free drinks better for you?
It has never been easier to opt for the dry option, so it may seem like a no brainer to simply opt for a mocktail or head to a dry cocktail bar. However, it is important to realise that alcohol free options are not always without their sins. Of course, we see none of the harmful effects on our bodies of ethanol but many alcohol free options rely heavily on sugar, additives and high calorie mixers. These are used to try to emulate the taste, texture and satisfaction of an alcoholic drink. And even products marketed as low calorie include sweeteners which often can be irritating to our guts and flare inflammatory skin issues. So it is very important to have even these ‘healthier’ options in moderation.
Beat the January Blues
In the long run, unhealthy alcohol use puts more strain on our bodies, particularly our guts and livers as well as causing the effects seen in the short term to be experienced in a protracted way.
We see the effects of these in reduced immunity, inability to filter toxins, reduced ability to absorb nutrients and generally every process in our body running less efficiently. The skin being the largest organ in the body reflect this and you see much more skin issues including itching, slow healing, inflammatory skin conditions and faster signs of aging.
Finding a healthy balance with alcohol, as with all things in life, is the key. You can absolutely enjoy a glass of wine or a few cocktails. Simple choices like alternating alcoholic drinks with a glass of water, choosing natural or biodiverse products, having smaller amounts throughout the week rather than binging, enjoying with food and avoiding alcohol in the few hours before bed can help you and your skin enjoy them all the more.
Considering blood tests to check vitamin levels, hormones and general functioning of your body can furthe help you take steps to prevent inflammation and aging as well as understand how your lifestyle is impacting your body and health.
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