Think those mojitos and caipirinhas taste too good to be… well, good? ‘Excessive carbs and sugar can lead to inflammation’, explains Dr Hextall, ‘while salt [hello, tequila] can lead to bloating’. Hence the bags and dark circles under your eyes after a big night out. ‘Excessive alcohol tends to cause flushing in most people and will act as a diuretic and cause dehydration,’ says Dr. Justine Hextall, one of London’s leading dermatologists. Congeners are chemicals produced during the fermentation process that contribute to the taste and smell of alcohol – and they’re the main culprit for a hangover.

• In some cases, you may even notice that minor ailments due to alcohol consumption are now becoming more serious.
• Below is a breakdown of just how alcohol takes a toll on your body and mind, making you look and feel older than you should ― plus some advice on how to cut back but still cut loose.
• ‘Dehydration weakens the skin barrier, which can allow environmental aggressors to cause damage’, Dr Hextall clarifies.
• Total calories is another line item to look for on a nutrition facts label.
• All in all, I was sobered by the long list of health effects both experts rattled off, which didn’t even include a possible aspartame-cancer connection.
• He or she may stuff themselves with food or simply pass out in bed at the end of the night.

Studies show that the rate of various types of fractures in older adults increases with heavy alcohol use. Alcohol is a factor in about 30% of suicides and fatal motor vehicle crashes, 40% of fatal burn injuries, 50% of fatal drownings and homicides, and 65% of fatal falls. People should https://ecosoberhouse.com/ not drink alcohol if they plan to drive, use machinery, or perform other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination. To fully appreciate the positive effects of sobriety on your body, let’s first examine the damaging connection between alcohol and skin aging.

Opioid use disorder in older adults: More common than you might think

Alcohol causes your body to release more stress hormones, which speeds up the aging process. It also affects the healthy functioning of your digestive system, making it harder for you to absorb essential nutrients. This includes vitamins A, B, D, and E; minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc; and even basics like proteins and carbohydrates. Alcohol’s all-around negative effect on nutrition means that heavy drinkers often become malnourished.

Many people in recovery report shinier, fuller hair now that they are sober. These serious symptoms are believed to be related to alcohol being a neurotoxin, which can cause tissue damage. In addition, people with alcohol addiction tend to have does drinking make you look older nutritional deficiencies that can impact the eyes. Alcohol can cause a lack of rest from a depleted sleep cycle. Usually, alcohol makes a person toss and turn during the night. In other words, a person suffers from poor quality of sleep.

How Alcohol Affects Your Skin

Alcohol can affect the way some vital organs work and make them age faster. While heavy drinkers are more likely to have cirrhosis (permanent damage to your liver), even moderate drinking can lead to problems like fatty liver disease. It also can make it harder for your kidneys to do their thing. Regular drinkers can trigger biological functions that make them age from the inside out. If you drink heavily or consistently, you could activate the aging process, putting you at risk of health conditions that typically affect older people. Older adults have less water in their bodies than younger people.