Alcohol Speeds Up Aging Making You Look Older and Less Attractive
Alcohol misuse is one of the most common causes of premature aging and more serious health issues. There are many myths surrounding alcohol consumption but most experts confer there is no healthy amount you can drink if you want to avoid speeding up the aging process. Ahead are all the ways alcohol could be making you look older and less attractive, and putting your health at risk.
1. Dehydration and Dryout
Alcohol is a diuretic so it increases how often you need to pee causing dehydration. When the skin loses moisture levels it can become dry and flaky and accelerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles making you look older than you are.
2. Premature Aging and Oxidative Stress
Alcohol is high in sugar and chemicals which increase the production of free radicals (toxins) in the body, causing oxidative stress and a breakdown of collagen and elastin which are the skin’s building blocks to keep it firm and radiant. Oxidative stress depletes the body of antioxidants, naturally occurring substances that protect the skin cells, tissues, and organs from damage, and disease.
3. Increased Redness, Sensitivity and Rosacea
Heavy alcohol consumption can cause redness, irritation, and sensitivity and trigger or worsen skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. Changes in the skin’s health and texture especially from alcohol-induced rosacea can cause permanent damage to the capillaries leaving your complexion ruddy, wrinkled, and unsightly.
4. Puffy Bloated Face
Because alcohol is a diuretic that makes you urinate more often it leads to water loss and dehydration. When the body senses it’s dehydrated, it retains water causing facial tissues to swell and resulting in a bloated, puffy face.
5. Nutrient Deficiencies
Drinking alcohol, especially in excess impairs nutrient absorption leading to deficiencies in the essential vitamins and minerals we need for good skin health. Nutrients like vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, and zinc maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails so lacking them results in dry aged skin, brittle nails, and accelerated hair loss
6. Disrupts Sleep
Drinking might send you off to the land of nod faster thanks to an increase in adenosine a chemical that induces sleep, but as your body metabolizes booze its effects wear off and you can wake up earlier or more often. Alcohol also interferes with your natural sleep cycle, particularly the REM stage (when you sleep deeper). Sleep deficiencies can cause dark circles, puffy eyes, and a fatigued appearance and impact the skin’s ability to repair and rejuvenate overnight leading to an older appearance.
7. Weakened Immunity
Excess alcohol consumption can also weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infection, illness, and disease. Weakened immunity also speeds up aging as it impairs the body’s ability to heal and regenerate, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and dry, dull aged skin.
8. Triggers Inflammation
Alcohol can cause systemic inflammation in the body which damages the skin’s DNA cells and tissues leading to accelerated aging. Inflammation can also trigger the development of more serious health issues and diseases. Signs of inflammation in the body include redness, swelling, and joint pain, which can negatively affect your appearance and make you look older and less attractive than you are.
9. Causes Weight Gain
Alcohol is high in sugar and empty calories and both are major weight gain and obesity culprits. When you’re overweight you are also more at risk of serious health problems including heart disease and diabetes and those extra pounds can cause sagging skin and wrinkles due to a loss of elasticity.
10. Impacts Mental Health
Alcohol is a natural depressant that exacerbates stress and anxiety and leads to depression and other mental health issues. When you have poor mental health it decreases motivation so you can neglect your skincare and grooming routines. Chronic stress can manifest in the body in the form of premature aging or more serious health issues.
11. Hormonal Imbalances
Alcohol disrupts the balance of hormones in the body, particularly those that regulate stress and reproductive health. Hormonal imbalances can lead to a variety of skin issues, including acne and premature aging. For women, alcohol can exacerbate menopausal symptoms, which can significantly impact appearance and aging.
12. Negatively Impacts Digestion and Gut Health
Some studies suggest a link between the health of your gut microbiome and your diet and lifestyle. Alcohol can irritate the digestive tract, throw off your balance of good and bad bacteria, and cause acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers, and bloating. When you have poor gut health, it disrupts digestion, and nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies that damage, and age of your skin, hair, and nails.
13. Loss of Bone Density
Drinking alcohol can interfere with the absorption of calcium and other essential minerals which can weaken the bones and increase your risk of osteoporosis. A loss of bone density loss can also impact your posture causing you to hunch and look older and an increased risk of fractures. Maintaining strong bone health is important as you age as it can also impact the structure of your face and contribute to an older saggier appearance.
14. Damages Liver, Heart and Cognitive Health
Your liver, heart, and cognitive function can become damaged by excess alcohol consumption. It’s the liver’s job to flush out toxins and overloading it by excessive drinking can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis and cause a yellow jaundiced appearance in the skin and eyes. Heavy drinking can also send your blood pressure soaring increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke and reducing your supply of oxygen and nutrients resulting in a dull and wrinkled complexion.
15. Beware Alcohol Myths
There is no amount of alcohol you can drink to avoid health risks or speeding up the rate you age. A glass of red wine is not good for your skin, though grapes and berries are bursting with antioxidants so that’s where that myth comes from. Drinking spirits mixed with sodas increases sugar content even more which causes inflammation and skin aging. Limit your alcohol consumption (or avoid it altogether) to keep your body healthy, your skin looking younger and lower your disease risk.