How Does Alcohol Affect Your Appearance?

Alcohol can have dramatic effects on the parts of the body we see every day.

Many of us know that alcohol dependency can damage organs such as the liver—but alcohol can have dramatic effects on the parts of the body we see every day, as well. So, how does alcohol affect your appearance? From significant weight gain to facial discoloration, the effects of alcohol on your appearance can take their toll—especially when alcohol dependency has endured for a lengthy period.

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Appearance?

While our appearances may not carry as much importance as our character, they still represent an aspect of who we are. Unfortunately, we often neglect to consider the effects of alcohol on the way we look each day. Here are a few fast facts about alcohol’s effects on your appearance.

• Exhausted Eyes
  Alcohol affects the quality of sleep that you experience during the night, lowering the number of hours you sleep and interrupting your rest frequently. As a result, alcohol dependent individuals can develop dark circles or bags under the eyes from exhaustion. Eyes tend to also suffer from a “bloodshot” look after excessive alcohol is consumed.
• Expanding Waistline
  Alcohol is calorie-intensive, with 125 calories in a glass of wine, and over 500 calories in a single bottle. Mixed drinks and cocktails often have incredibly high calorie counts, as well—with just a few drinks allowing you to put on the amount of weight you would with multiple chocolate bars.
• Dehydrated Skin
  Regular alcohol consumption leaves the skin brittle and dry, as the body becomes dehydrated. Additionally, the skin may take on a pale or grey cast due to dehydration.
• Premature Aging
  Alcohol robs the skin of the nutrients it needs for maximum elasticity and vibrance. Chronic drinking can leave the skin looking much older than it otherwise would due to vitamin deficiencies.
• Skin Discoloration and Redness
  Alcohol has been linked to rosacea, a skin condition that creates redness in the cheeks. Alcohol also dilates the thin blood vessels in the skin, reddening the face and nose in particular, and creating red streaks on the face.
• Blemishes
  Alcohol consumption can also create tiny bumps on the surface of the skin, often reddish in color. Some alcohol dependent individuals also find themselves with pimples and blemishes from drinking—especially frequent in women who become inebriated and forget to remove their makeup before sleeping.
• Puffiness and Bloat
  Alcohol causes the skin to become puffy in appearance, causing bloating in both the face and the abdomen.

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