Below we get into common alcohol skin conditions. Take a read, take notes, and consider where you can make some lifestyle changes.

1. Dry Skin

If you have dry skin from alcohol, join the club! Alcohol is a diuretic which means it dehydrates you and dries out your skin. Drinking alcohol is linked to premature aging and contributes to dull, grey, puffy, and bloated skin.

2. Alcohol Related Skin Conditions

Rosacea

If your face turns red after drinking alcohol, you may have rosacea. Rosacea is a common skin condition affecting over 14 million people between the ages of 30 and 50. The cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead will turn red. Drinking alcohol is thought to trigger a rosacea flare-up, and studies show that the odds of developing rosacea increase if you drink alcohol.

Alcohol Flush Reaction

Turning red after alcohol or having “rosy cheeks” is due to an enzyme issue. The enzyme ALDH2 helps break down a substance in alcohol called acetaldehyde. Redness occurs when acetaldehyde doesn’t break down, and there is too much in the system. Facial redness from alcohol can also lead to other symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, headache, nausea, and vomiting. This alcohol intolerance is genetic and is found in about 8 percent of people worldwide.

Hives

Hives may arise from an alcohol intolerance related to alcohol flush, but they can also be related to an allergy. Hives can last from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the circumstances, and can be soothers with antihistamines and cold compresses.

Dark Circles

Dark under-eye circles are among the most common and relatable alcohol related skin issues. Alcohol interrupts your normal sleep cycle and strips you of a full night of nourishing sleep. In addition, alcohol can cause blood vessels to dilate under the eyes making dark circles more inset and pronounced. Sleep deprivation begins at 5 hours, so be sure to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep and put a cold compress on the eyes.

Psoriasis

If you experience skin rashes from alcohol, it is most likely psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition where skin cells build up to create dry, itchy patches. Unfortunately, drinking alcohol can increase the chances of getting psoriasis, worsen the symptoms, stop the effectiveness of treatment, and prevent remission.

Dandruff

Dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a sign of an immune system imbalance or a yeast production problem. Dandruff can be on the scalp or other parts of the body, and drinking alcohol can cause a flare-up. In addition, alcohol is dehydrating and can lead to hair thinning and hair loss.

Does Alcohol Cause Eczema?

Research is conflicting when it comes to alcohol and eczema. There is no evidence that drinking alcohol causes eczema or a flare-up, although alcohol does dry out the skin and dilate blood vessels, with can make eczema more inflamed. In a long list of skin problems from alcohol, it’s good to know at least one problem is less related!

3. Skin Aging

If you want to age faster, drinking alcohol is the way to go. As we defined at the very top, alcohol is a diuretic and will sap your body and skin of moisture. Without moisture, the skin wrinkles more permanently. Alcohol also inflames the tissue, creating a histamine reaction or a red flush to the skin. Over time, this redness can become permanent with continued heavy drinking.

So, with such detrimental effects, what is the best alcohol skin aging reverse? Other than giving up alcohol, below are a couple of suggestions you can take to reverse time.

Hydrate

Easy peasy, drink water regularly, and stay hydrated!

Clear Liquor

Clear alcohol like gin, vodka, and tequila run through the system faster. And, if possible, go for a vodka that doesn’t have a grain in it, like potato vodka.

Lower the Intake

Alcohol metabolizes at a slower rate as you age. When you are in your 20s, alcohol can leave your body within three hours; in your 40s, it takes about 33 hours. You must leave enough time for your body to process the alcohol fully. So, take a break between days and work towards only drinking two to three times a week.

4. Bruising

You wouldn’t think alcohol and bruising are related, but they are. Alcohol actually makes you more likely to bruise!

Alcohol is a vasodilator, which causes the blood vessels to expand and relax temporarily; this increases blood flow throughout the body and near the skin's surface. An increased blood flow through blood vessels means that when they are ruptured or broken, blood leaks out and causes the blue-purple bruise you see. All this means that when you drink and knock your shin, the bruise is bigger than if you did the same thing sober. Additionally, you may not remember bruising after drinking, as alcohol also affects memory.

Bruising from alcohol is a negative side effect but reasonably normal and should clear in three to four days. If the bruise doesn’t fade, call your doctor.

5. Skin Infections

Yeast Infection

It is possible to get a yeast infection from alcohol. Beer and wine contain yeast, and consuming each in high quantities can lead to a yeast infection.

Cellulitis

You are more likely to develop cellulitis from heavy drinking. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that affects the lower legs making them red, swollen, warm to the touch, and painful. The bacterial infection is caught through a cut or wound and can be treated with antibiotics. If you suspect you have cellulitis, consult with your doctor immediately.

6. Skin Cancer

Although everything we have covered can be severe, skin cancer should be taken very seriously. There is significant evidence that drinking alcohol is connected to mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus cancer. Additionally, alcohol intake has been proven to increase the risk of melanoma, a disease in which cancer cells form in melanocytes, like moles.

How To Fix Alcoholic Skin Problems

The best way to tackle skin issues from alcohol is with Dermaclara. Alcoholic skin symptoms, including dry skin, wrinkles, fine lines, degraded collagen and elastin production, and dull and grey skin, can be brought back to life.

Dermaclara utilizes silicone technology to turn back the harmful effects of alcohol. Unlike other brands that rely on harsh ingredients, Dermaclara stimulates what is already there with a non-invasive, chemical-free, dermatologist-approved approach. The silicone patch creates a microclimate between the seal and your skin, boosting moisture and producing collagen and elastin. The process smooths fine lines and wrinkles, erases stretch marks, tightens loose skin, and fades imperfections.

The reusable patches can be used up to 30 times and applied anywhere. But the results are visible after a single use. Use the patches for three to six months for permanent, life-long change. Over time Dermaclara can permanently clear away the dark circles, the red, irritated skin, the rough, dry patches, and the deep wrinkles.

Obviously, the list is long when it comes to alcohol-related skin issues but know that as you reconsider your relationship with alcohol and take a look in the mirror that Dermaclara is there to give you the gift of beautiful skin no matter what the journey looks like.