Enjoy a drink or two? It’s not only your health that feels the effects of hangovers – your skin suffers, too
WORDS: DEBRA WATERS. MAIN PHOTO: ALAMY. *IMPACT OF SMOKING AND ALCOHOL USE ON FACIAL AGING IN WOMEN. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP. CHECK WITH YOUR GP OR MEDICAL EXPERT BEFORE TAKING NEW SUPPLEMENTS.
If you have hangovers regularly, the chances are you’re drinking more than the recommended 14 units a week, which increases the risk of developing certain diseases. But did you know that regular boozing can contribute to premature ageing?
‘Alcohol increases inflammation and causes blood vessels to dilate, which can make the skin look red,’ says aesthetic nurse Nina Prisk of Update Aesthetics, which has clinics in London and Cornwall. ‘Because it’s a diuretic it forces out water and leaves skin dry and flaky, with wrinkles and lines more visible.’
Unfortunately, that’s not all. ‘Alcohol also affects the skin’s natural balance of hyaluronic acid, a naturally-produced chemical that helps us retain water and keep tissues healthy. This is why drinking results in dull, lacklustre skin,’ says Nina.
And then there’s drinking’s impact on vitamin A, which is crucial in the production of collagen. ‘Without it, skin lacks elasticity and appears saggy and less firm,’ says Nina. ‘Over a prolonged period, alcohol can deplete collagen and dehydrate the skin so that lines appear deeper and skin ages more quickly.’
And the more we drink, the worse it is.
WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
One way to offset these effects is to consume skin-friendly foods, says Lola Biggs, dietitian at supplement brand Together Health. If our diet is an alcohol-defying one, our skin is better equipped to manage a moderate amount of booze. Try to include Lola’s recommendations regularly, rather than shoehorning them in when you drink.
✢ DARK LEAFY GREENS
Eat plenty of these – such as kale and broccoli – as they are high in chlorophyll, which absorb toxins from the bloodstream.
✢ TURMERIC This wonderful spice supports the liver. Add to curries, soups or lattes, or take a turmeric and black pepper supplement.
✢ OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS These counteract inflammation, a main driver of premature skin ageing. Eat oily, fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, and put avocados in smoothies and salads. Vegans can take a plant-based supplement.
✢ BERRIES High-pigment berries – such as blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants – are low in sugar, high in fibre and vitamin C, and bursting with plant pigments, which are nutrients that fight the impact of alcohol. Add to smoothies
