NEW STUDIES LINK SKIN DAMAGE TO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

The latest scientific study on harmful effects of alcohol on skin by Dr. Ben Bamburg Geiger, University of Kent, UK, reveals that among people who developed drinking problems, there was reduction in life satisfaction, besides other physical illnesses linked to drinking.

Promoting herbal natural food and skin care formulations, Herbally Radiant has been highlighting the ill effects on skin due to alcohol. We constantly advise customers to refrain from smoking and drinking in order to maintain elasticity of skin and prevent premature aging signs.
In scientific terms, Dr. David Colbert, New York Dermatology Group, explained in an interview to Huffington Post, alcohol is a hepatotoxin,” meaning it specifically damages the liver; it’s a toxin to the cells that detoxify your body.  It thus dehydrates the skin meaning our skin will appear less plump and fresh. Dr. Colbert added that alcohol mixed with sugary drinks can give extra “sugar hangover”, resulting in sallow skin and bloodshot eyes.
Facial flushing is probably the most common skin sign of drinking alcohol, as intake causes the blood vessels in the skin to dilate even with moderate intake, increasing blood flow. Over time, dilation of blood vessels can become permanent, leading to the formation ectasia (i.e. spider veins), affecting mainly the face, chest, abdomen, arms, and hands. The permanent dilation can be caused directly by alcohol effect on the blood vessels, and in some cases due to liver damage by overindulgence.  Damage to these small blood vessels can cause them to be leaky, allowing for fluid to enter soft tissue like the skin, giving a puffy swollen appearance.
Alcohol can adversely affect our mineral/vitamin levels by causing a depletion in healthy nutrients that aid in carrying oxygen throughout your body. Importantly, alcohol can have a huge negative impact on our vitamin A, B3, and C  levels, all of which are very important antioxidants for skin, and vital in the regeneration of new cells.
Alcohol contains congeners that worsen hangover, but more importantly, excess impurities of congeners may contribute to more skin aging, according to Dr. Krant, who adds : “sugar anywhere in the diet leads to systemic inflammation, contributing ultimately to cell damage and increased skin aging. Therefore drinks like mojitos, mixed with soft beverages, are loaded with more sugar and aggravate acne by spiking insulin levels, causing skin inflammation.
Dr. Colbert clarified drinks like white or red wine or mixed cocktails containing sugar, can lead to swollen skin and bloating. Dr. Jaliman emphatically adds:  “76 percent of people that drink red wine have a flair of their rosacea,” versus 56 percent of those drinking white wine, 41 percent of those drinking beer and only 21 percent of scotch drinkers. “Red wine can also cause histamine release in some people, leading to increased flushing and more of a hangover,” Dr. Krant added.
Alcohol consumption can also impair the immune system in addition to disrupting the barrier function of the skin. Both bacterial and fungal skin infections are common among those who drink frequently and excessively.