The ageing effects of alcohol

Posted on 12 Nov, 2011

Many people enjoy the odd glass of wine after a hard day at work, or to celebrate the end of a stressful and tiring week, but do you know the risks you are running if you frequently drink above the recommended limit?

Health issues aside, excessive alcohol consumption can cause great damage to your skin. For those suffering from flushing or the skin condition rosacea, alcohol can trigger periods of increased and constant redness to the face.

It causes the blood vessels to dilate, causing the redness, but also the appearance of tiny blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin. Thread veins, or spider veins, are veins that remain dilated, making them visible through the epidermis.

Alcohol also dehydrates the skin, encouraging the formation of wrinkles and lines, while an excessive consumption can lead to deficiencies in vitamin A. The skin finds itself both stripped of moisture and producing less collagen, which is essential for supple and elastic skin.

Of course, the best approach here is prevention rather than cure. Reducing alcohol consumption can help to prevent further damage, and there are some treatments that can help improve appearance. Thread vein removal can be effectively carried out using IPL, which heats the vessels and causes them to denature and fade away.