Acne on the face after alcohol and other consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages

Read in the article:

1. Causes of acne after drinking alcohol
2. Places where acne appears
3. How to cure acne
4. Allergy to alcohol

Even if your skin is perfect, a single dose of alcohol can lead to the formation of acne, rashes, and redness. Ethanol washes out collagen, vitamins A and E. After drinking alcohol, the skin becomes dull, dries out, and loses protection from the environment. The more often a person drinks, the higher the likelihood of rashes.

Dehydration and swelling73

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to dehydration. Fluid from the cells is released into the intercellular space, accumulating in it. This explains why facial swelling appears in the morning after drinking alcoholic beverages.

Swelling mainly occurs under gases. There is most subcutaneous fat fiber here, which attracts moisture. Just a couple of seemingly harmless glasses of red wine can lead to morning swelling not only of the face, but also of the legs and fingers. By the way, dark circles under the eyes are also explained by dehydration.

Why do acne appear on the face after drinking alcohol?

It is no secret that after drinking alcoholic beverages, toxins accumulate in the body. To protect it from the harmful effects of harmful substances, the liver devotes all its strength to their safe neutralization. However, its resources are not always enough to completely protect the body from the negative effects of alcohol. In case of severe intoxication and dehydration, acne forms on the skin.

There are other reasons that explain the formation of acne from alcohol on the face:

• malfunction of the pancreas;
• violation of blood microcirculation;
• excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide in cells;
• dysfunction of the sweat glands;
• disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system;
• metabolic disorder.

Drinking alcohol provokes a temporary surge in testosterone. This hormone can increase the oiliness of the skin, which will ultimately lead to clogged pores, the formation of comedones and inflammatory elements.

Ethanol causes blood vessels to constrict, making them vulnerable. Because of this, the skin turns pale and the complexion may become gray. Due to the disruption of the protective barrier, it is easier for bacteria to penetrate into the pores. The skin also becomes defenseless against them due to a decrease in the level of leukocytes caused by alcohol consumption.

People often eat a lot of snacks while drinking alcohol. Therefore, not only alcohol, but also fatty, spicy, smoked foods can have a negative effect on the skin.

When you discover new pimples* on your face, do not rush to diagnose yourself. Contact a specialist for advice. He will not only find out the cause of the rashes, but also give recommendations on how to combat them.

Rosacea73

After drinking alcohol, the face turns red. We are not talking about a cute blush, but about stretched blood vessels, the appearance of a web of capillaries. This is explained by the fact that alcohol leads to disruption of microcirculation in small vessels. Among dermatologists there is a term “alcoholic face”. It appears in people who have disturbances in water-mineral balance. In this case, dehydration of the upper layers of the skin occurs, vasodilation, fluid retention in areas prone to this (for example, under the eyes).

What to do if alcohol causes acne*?

Acne* on the face may not appear immediately from drinking alcohol. But if you are sure that it was the consumption of an alcoholic drink that caused the rash, you need to completely give up alcohol. It will be useful to adjust your diet in general, for example, avoid eating fatty meats, desserts, and baked goods. Reducing foods high in glucose, bromine, and iodine is beneficial for problem skin50. But a specialist should adjust nutrition and prescribe a diet.

Thus, for mild to moderate acne, topical antibiotics, for example, Clindovit®18 gel, can be prescribed. It helps reduce the level of free fatty acids and exhibits antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes 6.

*acne

Premature aging73

Alcohol has diuretic properties. Loss of water leads to skin becoming dull, dry, and wrinkles becoming more pronounced. Due to a decrease in the level of vitamin A, which is a strong antioxidant, collagen synthesis decreases. The face looks sagging.

Dehydration is explained by a decrease in the production of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin. Urine production increases and water absorption is blocked. As a result, new wrinkles appear and skin oiliness increases.

What to do

Getting rid of pimples and acne will have to start with an unconditional refusal of alcohol. Otherwise, you will continue to sprinkle your face, and any measures taken will only give a temporary effect. You also need:

1. Detoxify. This can be done by regularly taking the correct doses of activated carbon or other sorbents. In case of chronic alcoholism, sometimes only droppers can help, but it is better to do them exclusively as prescribed by a narcologist.
2. Adjust your diet. The menu should always include foods rich in antioxidants: fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, fermented milk, and in the absence of allergies, honey and pollen.
3. Strengthen your immune system. This is facilitated by a healthy lifestyle, physical exercise, and walks in the fresh air. In the off-season, you can take immunomodulators and high-quality multivitamin preparations.
4. Consult a doctor and get examined. This must be done if there is a suspicion of existing diseases of the internal organs. It will not be possible to get rid of acne until it is cured or put into stable remission.
5. Provide proper skin care. It is better to use pharmaceutical drugs only as prescribed by a specialist. But it is necessary to reconsider the arsenal of cosmetics and leave only those that are suitable for problem skin. It is advisable to minimize the use of decorative cosmetics during the period of active recovery.

Practice and reviews from my clients show that if the above conditions are met and a complete abstinence from alcohol, the skin recovers quite quickly. After just a couple of weeks, a blush begins to appear on the cheeks and unhealthy pallor disappears; after 2-3 months, the firmness and elasticity of the epidermis increases significantly.

Acne and rashes completely go away in 2-12 weeks, it all depends on the neglect of the condition and the individual characteristics of the body.

The effect of alcoholic drinks on the body

Ethyl alcohol, once in the body, inevitably poisons it.

• This is a poison that affects the stomach, intestines, nervous and urinary systems. Alcohol itself is not as dangerous as its breakdown products.
• When broken down during digestion, under the action of liver enzymes, alcohol releases acetaldehyde, which is then converted into acetic acid.

It is acetaldehyde that causes irreparable damage to internal organs and systems:

• increases blood pressure and the likelihood of a heart attack;
• causes stomach pain, diarrhea, contributing to the development of gastritis and ulcers;
• has a detrimental effect on the liver, which effectively copes with the processing of alcohol until it fails;
• provokes impotence and infertility, poisoning the reproductive system;
• destroys cells of the nervous system, which leads to depression, mental disorders and decreased intelligence.

Photo: alcohol consumption has a harmful effect not only on organs, but also on the skin

The question of whether acne can occur after drinking alcohol has not been fully studied.

Every body reacts to alcohol differently.

• The degree of intoxication, the presence or absence of a hangover depends not only on the amount of drink. But also on the amount of enzymes produced by the liver that break down alcohol.
• Some people, even after a few sips of beer, immediately develop acne or inflamed comedones. For others, the skin does not change in any way.

Photo: the risk of developing a rash with increased oily skin increases sharply

For example, in a person with naturally oily facial skin or with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, the risk of acne after drinking a glass of beer increases sharply.

Effects on the skin

• Alcohol has a detrimental effect on the condition of blood vessels. It thins their walls, reduces elasticity, and also increases blood viscosity. For this reason, blood clots form in the vascular cavities, which interfere with normal blood circulation and can cause thrombosis and varicose veins. Stagnation of blood circulation contributes to the appearance of rashes on the body.
• The heart does not receive enough blood, and therefore oxygen. From its lack, the processes of necrosis - irreversible death - can begin in the myocardial tissues. In medicine, this condition is called a heart attack.

Under normal conditions, the skin is home to many microorganisms - viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Systematic drinking of alcohol weakens the immune system.

• Microbes begin to actively multiply, causing infectious processes and inflammation.
• Intoxication causes acne to appear on the forehead, décolleté, shoulders and between the shoulder blades.

Allergy symptoms

Photo: itching during an allergic reaction

If, after drinking alcohol, your whole body itches, or a red spotty rash appears on your stomach, chest, or arms and legs, then most likely this is a symptom of an allergy.

• More often, the reaction does not appear to the alcohol itself, but to other substances contained in low-quality drinks.
• Flavorings, preservatives, flavoring additives, and dyes are added to cheap wine, brightly colored, low-alcohol cocktails.
• An allergic rash can occur even from good quality alcohol. If you drink too much of it.

Other symptoms include:

• dry skin, peeling and cracking;
• itching, urticaria;
• nausea, vomiting;
• increased blood pressure;
• the appearance of intoxication even from small doses of alcohol.

The most unpleasant thing in this situation is that the allergy develops gradually.

• At first, the body itches a little, then barely noticeable red spots appear.
• If you continue to drink alcohol, the spots grow and spread to other areas of the skin.
• The skin becomes increasingly flaky, dries out from constant dehydration, and begins to crack.
• Infection easily penetrates into lesions and dermatitis develops.

How to deal with a rash caused by alcohol?

The very first thing to do in such a situation is to completely give up alcohol. At least temporarily. But even Prohibition will not get rid of acne in a short time.

It will take a long time to fight them, and this will require an integrated approach. You definitely need to get tested. The treatment plan is tailored to each person individually.

Main stages of treatment

1. Cleansing the body of toxins. To do this, you will need either therapy in a medical facility, or self-administration of medications at home, for example, activated carbon (only as prescribed by a doctor!).
2. Nutrition adjustments. You need to include in your diet as many foods as possible that contain antioxidants (fruits, vegetables, lean meat and fish, dairy products), as well as foods with fiber - cabbage, legumes. If there is no pronounced allergy, you can consume honey and pollen. Exclude citrus fruits, coffee, sweets. Drink as much water, green tea, and herbal infusions as possible. Use herbal infusions and sorbents.
3. Healthy lifestyle. If possible, you need to give up bad habits, spend as much time as possible in the fresh air, and play sports.
4. Conduct a comprehensive examination of internal organs and undergo treatment prescribed by a doctor.
5. Provide proper skin care and regularly carry out cosmetic procedures.

You can also try traditional recipes

But it is important to keep in mind that they do not help everyone and not always. Any non-traditional treatment methods can be used only after consultation with doctors!

Most often in such cases it is recommended:

• masks with cosmetic clay;
• treating the skin with decoctions of burdock root, string, chamomile, calendula (you can take baths with these herbs if you have acne all over your body);
• make scrubs;
• use alcohol-free cosmetics.

It must be remembered that any skin problems due to alcohol are most often complex in nature. And treatment will require many different means and methods. But this problem cannot be left unresolved.

Human skin is a very sensitive and receptive tissue. And sometimes even the most harmless pimples can cause serious illness, even cancer!

After withdrawal from withdrawal, how to restore the body after binge drinking?

This is a matter not only of time, but also of adequate measures to treat alcoholism. It is difficult to imagine that after prolonged alcohol abuse, quitting it will pass without leaving a trace on the body. Indeed, in addition to purely physiological recovery and treatment of concomitant diseases, psychological and social rehabilitation of the patient is necessary.

Without the help of a qualified psychiatrist-narcologist, this problem is almost impossible to solve. Its main task is to develop in the patient a persistent desire to overcome his addiction and prevent repeated alcoholization of the body. The influence on the patient can be carried out in the form of an individual conversation, hypnotic suggestion or group classes. Once motivated to give up alcohol, it will be much easier for the patient to follow all the doctor’s recommendations for a healthy lifestyle and restoration of physical potential.