Thursday, April 12, 2018

Alcohol and Your Skin: The Good Times May Not Be So Good for Your Complexion

Over the holidays and the New Year, chances are that many of us were on a festive turn that involved a few alcoholic beverages. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an alcoholic beverage. In fact, red wine contains both antioxidants and Resveratrol which may be good for your health (in moderation). However, as you’re pouring that drink, holiday or otherwise, keep in mind that alcohol has some short term and long term impacts on your skin.


Short Term: Alcohol Dehydrates You and Your Skin

Even if is just one night of drinking, alcohol can dehydrate your skin leading to the accentuated appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is especially true of the area around your eyes which doesn’t produce its own moisture. What can you do to help minimize this dehydration and keep skin looking dewy and fresh? Begin by making sure that you drink at least one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage that you consume. While it’s always better if you can eat your water in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, we understand if this may not be an option at every location where you’re enjoying an alcoholic beverage. Of course, also keep a handy topical skin moisturizer nearby to rehydrate skin from the surface.

Recommended Product: Murad Hydrating Toner

If you’ve got room in your bag, take this instantly hydrating spray toner with you to rapidly restore moisture to skin that may have dried out from alcohol consumption!

Short-to-Mid Term: Redness and Flushing

Alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate, which is ultimately the cause or redness and flushing for even the most infrequent drinkers. If you have even a mild alcohol allergy, drinking can also aggravate other skin disorders such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. But it’s the dilation of blood vessels and the redness and flushing that impacts most drinkers, and these dilations can become permanent and lead to spider veins. They’re also not limited to the face and can impact any area of the body, including the arms, hands and chest. Why do blood vessels dilate when you’re drinking? There are two primary causes. In the short term, alcohol has a direct dilation effect on blood vessels. But in the long term, alcohol can cause liver damage, which in turn can lead to an increase in blood pressure in the network of blood vessels in your body.

Recommended Product: Murad Correcting Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 15| PA++
If you’re prone to redness, apply this facial moisturizer with a redness neutralizing tint beneath makeup before you go out or as needed throughout the night.

Customer Review

“I purchased this product to try and reduce the redness due to dryness and rosacea. This product works great and has moisturized extremely well. My face is no longer dry or red. Thanks Murad. All your products that I have used have been the only products that have worked for me and I have tried alot of products over the past 25 years. You’re a life saver.” Horsefly, Alabama

Long Term: Remember That All Things are Good in Moderation

If you’re a social drinker, then you’ll only need to worry about the short or midterm skin effects of drinking. But if you drink in large quantities daily, then there are significant long term impacts to your skin and body. A short list would include red palms from liver damage, jaundice (yellow skin) from liver damage, itching, dryness and increased UV damage (all as a result of liver damage), hyperpigmentation or dark skin spots, chronic dry skin, increased skin infections and unhealthy skin due to vitamin deficiencies. Of course, if you drink in heavy enough quantities that these are concerns for you, then you should seek professional assistance to help you reduce your drinking dependency or frequency.

The holiday and New Year are a great time to enjoy goodcompany and festive alcoholic beverages. Just be aware when you head out for your evening of fun that drinking can have an impact on your skin. Stay hydrated and healthy and have the right skin care products to combat dryness, redness and flushing.

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