WHILE overindulging in “adult beverages” can make our heads pound and stomachs implode – from starting the summer days celebrating with margaritas on the beach, bottles of champagne at brunch and alcoholic spirits of your choosing later on at night – perhaps less obvious are the toxic effects that seep into our skin.

This article will cover the effects alcohol has on the skin and how to alleviate them.

ALCOHOL EFFECTS

Besides dehydration and toxic build-up, too much alcohol consumption depletes levels of vitamin A in the body. This antioxidant aids in cell renewal and turnover, which keeps skin healthy and younger-looking. It also fights free radicals, so removing this defence makes the skin’s moisture-rich lipid layer vulnerable to free radical damage.

Furthermore, alcohol dilates the blood vessels, causing a rush of blood that flushes the skin and flares up with rosacea; or worse, breaks blood vessels, which can cause permanent spider veins on the face. Dilated blood vessels are partly what’s behind that puffy hangover complexion.

Additionally, mixed drinks often contain large amounts of salt and sugar, and as we all know, salt retains water, which can lead to bloating and under-eye bags.

Also, sugar has been shown to trigger the hormone IGF-1, which causes an overproduction of oil in the skin, also leading to inflammation and acne.

CORRECTIVE MEASURES

There are a multitude of home and medical prescription remedies to help alleviate a hangover. However, we’ll focus on what a skin-care professional can do with a client who has “partied-out” skin.

1. Dry Skin

Replenishing the fluids lost will return most of the skin’s functions to normal, as long as they stop drinking alcohol. By drinking water, skin tone and clarity will return, and fine lines and pores will appear smaller. In addition, applying moisturiser will improve the skin’s dried-out appearance.

Moisture-rich facials using products containing hyaluronic acid will replenish skin cells with the water lost.

Products containing taurine showed the greatest increase in ALDH activity and acetaldehyde breakdown, making this an optimal hangover cure.

2.Dull skin

Exfoliating the skin will remove the dry, dead cells on the surface that make it look dull. In addition, the scrubbing action itself will bring blood to the surface of the skin, improving circulation and the complexion.

Since dehydrated skin looks dull, dry and grey, adding a tinted moisturiser, blush, bronzers, or even self-tanners can also improve its colour.

3. Puffy eyes

Before crashing for the night, propping the head up on an extra pillow can help to drain excess fluid and reduce puffiness. Also, lukewarm water should be used instead of hot water because high temperatures increase puffiness.

Then there’s the bloodshot factor, which can easily be addressed using eye drops.

Additionally, placing a black tea bag on eyes can help to reduce under-eye circles and puffiness. This is due to the caffeine content, which constricts blood vessels, thereby restricting blood flow and reducing swelling. It is also a diuretic and draws water away from puffy cells.

Lastly, tinted eye cream can disguise dark circles. Products containing light-diffusing particles tend to disguise shadows best. These should be applied using a gentle patting motion so as not to irritate the delicate under-eye skin.

Professional treatments such as radio frequency are very effective in reducing puffiness as well as tightening the skin around the eyes to overall minimise recurring puffiness.

4. Acne

Excess alcohol content in the blood or body can cause severe inflammation even at cellular level. Alcohol itself contains a lot of sugar and along with chasers, one can easily surpass the daily intake of sugar just in one drink.

Depending on your skin’s ability to absorb sugar, the process may be triggered as alcohol sugar can cause inflammation, which is then converted into acne breakouts. If you don’t want to get affected by acne, then always use those alcohols which have low sugar content or sugar level.

To combat acne-related effects, acne treatments such as high-frequency and LED therapy can be used to regulate the skin cells.

5. Rosacea

The reddish appearance of skin is known as rosacea. According to one estimate, almost 45 million people have experienced rosacea worldwide. Mostly fair-skinned people suffer from this particular disease.

The common symptoms of rosacea are pink or red patches, small red bumps, visible broken arteries, bumps containing pus, pink or irritated eyes, and red cysts.

Many individuals suffering with rosacea have a misconception that they are skin sensitive or have flush or blush. The areas which are affected by rosacea are often sensitive stimulants causing vasodilation, which is itself characterised by the opening of capillaries.

The stimulants can be hot temperatures, direct hot sunlight, hot drinks, sauces, and hot foods. The hot liquid is possibly the alcohol. People suffering with rosacea are very receptive to calming skin masks such a seaweed or chamomile.

LIMIT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Alcohol can do a number on the body, including the skin, so I always advise clients to try to limit the number of alcoholic beverages they consume.

We are now more aware of the repercussions and better equipped with a few beauty tricks to rectify the side effects.

A few additional approaches to saving your skin and body from the effects of alcohol include choosing your “adult beverages” more wisely. For example, experts have suggested straight vodka over dark liquors and red wine, which contains the antioxidant reservatrol.

Furthermore, eating during drinking will help slow the release of sugar. And alternating water with alcohol can lessen the effect and keep the body more hydrated. Of course, in the end, the best solution is to avoid drinking alcohol altogether.

Michelle Vernon is a licensed aesthetician who operates the Body Studio Skincare establishment, located at 23 Central Plaza, Kingston 10. She may be reached at telephone 908-0438 or 684-9800, Instagram @bodystudioskincare , Website: www.bodystudioskincare.com