Drunk Dialing And Bad Skin: Why You Should Sip It, Not Tip It

Drinking too much can lead to regrets. We don’t have much advice when it comes to drunk dialing except maybe: don’t. But we do have some thoughts on alcohol-related skin regrets and how to avoid them. Before you pour, know the score.

Alcohol dehydrates your skin. Alcohol is a diuretic. (That’s why the line for the ladies room is always so long.) It also suppresses the hormone that helps you reabsorb water. The effect is basically a doubling down on dehydration, which leads to dull skin, deeper lines and more visible pores. No thanks.

Alcohol depletes your body’s vitamin A. That’s bad because vitamin A is an antioxidant hero responsible for cell renewal, cell turnover, rejuvenation, and fighting off cell damaging free radicals. Less vitamin A, less radiant, healthy, youthful glow.

Alcohol triggers rosacea. The National Rosacea Society reports 76% of patients surveyed said alcohol is a major trigger for rosacea flare-ups, with red wine topping the list of culprits. What’s behind it? Alcohol increases blood flow and causes blood vessels to expand near the surface of the skin causing redness. The excess fluid also creates puffiness especially around the eyes and cheeks.

Alcohol leads to excess sugar consumption. While most liquors have low to no sugar, they are usually mixed with sugary juices or syrups. A traditional margarita, for instance, has anywhere from 12 to a whopping 27 grams of sugar depending on the mix. A trigger for inflammation, glycation, and oxidative stress, sugar is among skin’s worst enemies.

Despite the concerns, alcohol in moderation actually has some (reduced risk of heart disease, potential protection from Alzheimer’s). Just be sure you’re not overdoing it. And when you do imbibe, drink plenty of water to combat dehydration, eat something along with your drink to help slow absorption, limit consumption of sugary mixed drinks, and give your skin a rejuvenating boost with Derm-A-Renew™ gentle peptide and vitamin A Serum and Wink peptide eye cream to reduce puffiness.