How Alcohol Affects Our Looks (E57)
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Gill discusses how alcohol affects our looks. You’ll learn the impact that alcohol has on our hair, skin and nails, dental health, facial aging, body odor, and on our ability to build and maintain muscle mass.
Key Takeaways
Alcohol makes us dehydrated because it suppresses an antidiuretic hormone that the body produces called vasopressin. If you’re abusing alcohol frequently, then you’re dehydrated a large portion of the time. Dry, dehydrated skin wrinkles a lot quicker than properly hydrated skin, which makes us look older. On top of this, because we’re dehydrated and going to the bathroom so much from drinking we’re losing vitamins at the same time, which are excreted through the urine.
One 2019 study looked at heavy drinking, smoking, and facial aging in women. They saw that heavy alcohol use, which is characterized by 8 or more drinks per week, was associated with increased severity of facial aging in almost all features analyzed.
Alcohol impairs the stomach's ability to absorb nutrients and irritates the digestive tract, potentially making it less able to absorb nutrients. This could lead to vitamin deficiencies and a decreased absorption of protein, which would negatively impact someone’s ability to build muscle after working out. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common for people who struggle with alcohol, and a couple studies from the early 2000’s found that alcoholic myopathy occurs in around 50% of all chronic alcoholics.
Sources
Drinkaware. How Alcohol Affects Your Appearance. Drinkaware.co.uk. 2021.
Contento N. Ways drinking alcohol affects your looks. TheList.com. 2017.
Landy, M. How Does Alcohol Impact Your Dental Health? Drmlandy. 2021.
Rooban T, Vidya K, Joshua E, et al. Tooth decay in alcohol and tobacco abusers. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2011;15(1):14-21.
Can Alcohol Impair Muscle Growth and Fitness Levels? Verywell Fit. 2021.
Goodman GD, Kaufman J, Day D, et al. Impact of Smoking and Alcohol Use on Facial Aging in Women: Results of a Large Multinational, Multiracial, Cross-sectional Survey. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(8):28-39.
Simon L, Jolley SE, Molina PE. Alcoholic Myopathy: Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):207-217
Luo, A., Jung, J., Longley, M. et al. Epigenetic aging is accelerated in alcohol use disorder and regulated by genetic variation in APOL2. Neuropsychopharmacol. 45, 327–336 (2020).
Cite this episode
Tietz, G. Episode 57: How Alcohol Affects Our Looks. Sober Powered. 2021.
