Tessel (39) has started 2024 well by not drinking alcohol. He really wants to maintain this resolution for as long as possible. “One thing that I hope will help me with this is knowing what positive consequences reducing alcohol has on the condition of my skin. I hope this knowledge will give an extra boost to my perseverance.”
According to aesthetic dermatology researcher Jetske Ultee, alcohol really has many effects on the body and skin. It is therefore logical to conclude that omitting alcohol also affects the skin. Before Ultee delves further into the topic, he wants to discuss what alcohol actually does to our skin:
Dumper and dryer
“In a Korean study (albeit small) it was once seen that two glasses of drink almost immediately – half an hour after ingestion – have an effect on the functioning of the skin and skin barrier. Redness, loss of moisture and value pH (acidity, ed.) increase, for example, but at the same time sebum production decreases.”
“Two hours after alcohol intake, most functions were restored, with the exception of sebum production, which remained low. So it is not surprising that the morning after an evening spent drinking wine the skin appears much more dry or dull,” says Ultee.
Alcohol intake also affects sleep and therefore skin condition. After a glass of alcohol you may fall asleep faster, but the quality of your sleep is worse: you sleep more restlessly and less deeply. This makes you less rested than if you had slept the same number of hours without drinking.
Accelerated skin aging
Ultee: “Ultimately, less good sleep is also unfavorable for your skin. Your skin needs enough sleep to function properly. Even a few short nights have an effect on your skin. You wake up with dark circles under your eyes, pale skin and a less fresh appearance, droopy eyelids and ditto at the corners of the mouth. Furthermore, this is seen in sleepers: puffy, red eyes, a paler skin color, more wrinkles, a skin barrier that repairs less well and, in the long term: accelerated skin aging.
Another thing to keep in mind: According to the dermatologist, drinking alcohol “attacks the skin’s protective antioxidant network.” “This effect occurs quickly and lasts for hours. This makes the skin much more vulnerable, including to sunlight. This increases the risk of sunburn.”
We hope this information increases your perseverance. By omitting the alcohol, your skin will have at least one.
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2024-01-03 14:48:51
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