Alcohol & Your Skin

Having the occasional drink is okay, but it’s important to not overdo it. Heavy alcohol consumption is no good for your skin. Because alcohol is a diuretic, it dehydrates your body and causes dry skin. This dehydration can lead to fatigue, dizziness and palpitations among other symptoms. It interferes with the production of vasopressin, a hormone that’s responsible for water reabsorption.

Alcohol has zero nutritional value and it deprives your skin of the vital nutrients and vitamins that are essential for cell renewal as well. Adam Friedman, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences explains that alcohol not only worsens healthy skin, but it makes common skin problems such as psoriasis and rosacea worse. Along with this, Dr. Friedman suggests that alcohol’s ability to suppress the immune system can also increase the risk of skin cancer, however there may be confounding factors such as smoking and unprotected sun exposure that contribute to that.

If you are going to get a drink, drinking red wine is probably your best bet because of the fact that it has resveratrol. Resveratrol acts as a potent antioxidant and can protect your body from damage that can put you at higher risk for things like heart disease and cancer. Drinking wine over beer or liquors benefits your skin because wine has flavonoids that may protect your skin from UV rays. Not to mention, one glass of red wine has a good amount of fiber and it has 187 mg of potassium. Potassium plays a role in maintaining our blood pressure and keeping our balance of fluids in the body healthy.

But the best thing may be to substitute a drink for water or club soda so you and your skin can stay hydrated and looking young. Water is better in the long run because it will keep your skin glowing and healthy. It will also help your body function properly.

All in all, its best to lay off the alcohol, your body and your skin will appreciate it!