Sober October: How Giving Up Alcohol Transforms Your Skin in 31 Days
Today marks the start of Sober October, a widespread month-long trend in which thousands of people pledge to stop drinking for the 31 days of the month and in some cases, raise money for cancer charities.
With this in mind, Dr Mike Tee, a Medical Doctor at the Harley Street Skin Clinic, highlights some of the various ways in which giving up alcohol can work wonders on your skin and overall complexion.
He states: “Alcohol can have a profound impact on your skin as well as your overall health. It can cause dehydration, accelerate acne issues and contribute to the signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles, skin sagging and dehydration lines. Abstaining from alcohol for just one month gives your skin the chance to refresh and over time give you a much healthier looking complexion.
Reduced Acne: “This is often one of the first signs of your skin improving itself after cutting out alcohol. Alcohol raises both your blood sugar and inflammation levels, which in effect, leads to acne flare ups and contributes to skin redness. For those suffering with rosacea, alcohol can worsen your symptoms. By ditching it all together, your inflammation will ease, meaning less spots and even-toned skin.
Hydrated Skin: “Alcohol consumption can really play with your hydration levels, which is why after a night of heaving drinking, it can feel like you’re constantly thirsty despite regularly topping up with water. When you cut out alcohol, your hydration levels are restored. Which means your skin looks plumper and less dry.
Brighter and Clearer Complexion: “As I mentioned previously, alcohol is extremely dehydrating to your body, and as a result, your skin can look dull, washed out and tired. Removing alcohol for Sober October means that over the course of the month, your skin barrier will gradually repair, boosting your natural radiance and giving a better overall glow to your skin.
Reduced Dark Circles and Puffiness: “Alcohol can wreak havoc on your overall sleep routine. It’s a known sleep disruptor and can cause fluid retention in your face, which contributes towards swollen eyes and increases the appearance of under eye bags. Taking a month off drinking will lead to improved circulation, which will help de-puff your face and reduce dark circles, and just in general lead to a much better night’s sleep.
Stronger Collagen and Fine Line Reduction: “Regular drinking accelerates collagen breakdown and weakens the elasticity of the skin, which are two of the biggest factors that lead to premature ageing. A consequence of this can be skin sagging, fine lines and wrinkles much earlier than they would usually appear. Removing alcohol will slow down the signs of ageing and increase firmness of the skin as it holds onto hydration.
Dr Tee finalises by saying: “In addition to the overall health benefits, Sober October can act as a great detox for your skin. Though I would advise heavy drinkers or those who feel they’re dependent on alcohol to speak with their GP or a medical professional before taking part in Sober October.”
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