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While we’d all like to believe in only the positive effects of the occasional glass of wine, it’s clear that alcohol isn’t always our friend. In fact, experts suggest that the negative effects of alcohol, especially when consumed excessively, far outweigh the positives, rendering that little boost in antioxidants, for instance, wholly ineffective. While the list of alcohol’s effects may be endless and are still being studied, here we’re covering off what all those refreshing summer cocktails or warming winter mixtures could do to your skin and how you can help your skin recover from the damage.
At the very basic level, alcohol has zero nutritional value. We know it can definitely taste delicious and sure, we can enjoy consuming our bevvies, but it’s important to get real about its effects on the body, too. Alcohol can impair liver function, challenge your immune system, disrupt hormone levels, damage cells, and more, all while having a negative impact on the texture, tone, and overall health of your skin. All of this can be experienced just 24 hours after drinking, but that’s just the beginning...
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you have to urinate much more often. Each time you do, vitamins and nutrients are flushed out of the body and your hydration levels lower, which certainly shows in the body’s largest organ—your skin. Any water consumed alongside alcohol won’t balance things out, as it simply continues to flush out of the body until the liver is able to completely eliminate the alcohol approximately three days later, meaning the potential for exaggerated fine lines and wrinkles and a rougher skin texture. Additionally, the damage to skin’s hydration lowers its defenses against other damaging factors like UV exposure, free radicals, and pollution.
It should be noted that oftentimes the alcohol isn’t the only element in these drinks that’s drying out skin and emphasizing fine lines and wrinkles—high sugar levels are to blame as well. High levels of sugar in mixed cocktails, wine, and beer alike stimulates what’s called the glycation of skin cells. Essentially, sugar molecules attack fats and proteins, latching on and forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are harmful compounds that cause proteins to stiffen and augment. Collagen and elastin are the two proteins in skin most affected by the process. The effects of all this sugar show up as duller, looser, more wrinkled skin and free radicals produced out of the process wreaks further havoc. In other words, the sugar in alcoholic beverages is like your skin’s kryptonite.
Chronic alcohol consumption can cause inflammation, and chronic inflammation can lead to a host of health concerns, your skin health being just one of the factors at risk. Chronic inflammation can lead to acne breakouts as well as redness and broken blood vessels, uneven skin tone, and, in time, rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Mild rosacea flare-ups appear as mild redness and flushing extending to thicker, swollen, bumpy skin over time and with greater intensity. Essentially, inflammation stalls skin from performing its normal cell renewal process, leading to duller, more tired, and older-looking skin.
The sugar content in alcohol can affect acne-prone skin, causing dehydration that clogs pores and increases dryness. Depending on how your night went, you may also be a little less invested in your skin care routine before hitting the sack, meaning blackheads, spots, and increased risk of wrinkled skin over time from skipping that important evening cleanse. All of this, alongside alcohol’s effects on hormone levels and gut flora, can set your skin’s natural balance out of whack, leading to blackheads and breakouts that may continue well after the final drink. This is particularly true when gut microflora have altered due to consistent and frequent alcohol consumption. As your system tries to get past this imbalance in gut bacteria, it shows in your complexion with increased acne breakouts on the cheeks, chin, and forehead.
Alcohol can certainly help us to fall asleep faster, but its effects on sleep quality aren’t so great. Alcohol consumption directly affects deep sleep. For most, alcohol means additional interruptions in sleep throughout the night and that’s even more true for females. According to one recent study, drinking before bed had a greater impact on sleep quality among females compared to males, with female participants not only experiencing fewer hours of sleep but also waking up much more frequently at night.
At night, skin initiates a deep clean while you sleep, working to reverse any damage caused by environmental elements, stress, and more encountered throughout the day. Further, while you sleep, restoration of the skin’s lipid barrier, which acts as a sort of shield to protect skin from external factors that can damage collagen and elastin stores in the lower layers of the skin, is initiated. To do so, the body produces higher levels of human growth hormones (HGH) to stimulate skin cell renewal for a smoother, healthier appearance by the morning. A lack of beauty sleep following alcohol consumption can leave skin unable to recuperate and restore its lipid barrier, giving it an immediately duller appearance the next morning and causing the development of further signs of premature aging over time, making it less possible for the skin to bounce back on its own.
Aside from cutting back on your alcohol intake, here are a few quick tips that can better help your skin recover from the damage done:
Adding serums and creams containing retinol can help to encourage a healthy skin cell renewal cycle, acting as a kickstart for aging or tired skin. Likewise, hyaluronic acid can help to capture and retain more moisture, supporting the restoration of skin’s lipid barrier for increased hydration and a smoother, plumper appearance.
This might be a simple one, but skipping alcohol for caffeinated or sugar-laden drinks isn’t the best option either. Instead, offset the alcoholic drinks by favoring water (fizzy water at most if you’re craving something bubbly) and consume more foods that help to rehydrate—this usually means more vegetables and less salt.
An increase in pimples is common when your gut works to get back to its pre-alcohol balance. Remember that your skin’s ability to bounce back from damage may be slower (also as a result of the alcohol), so it’s super important not to pop those pimples! Instead, consider a spot treatment to soothe inflammation or opt for acne treatments that utilize Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to both reduce redness and inflammation while neutralizing acne-causing bacteria to prevent future breakouts.
For those experiencing rosacea symptoms, it’s best to get a head start on treatments. Be sure to check in with a dermatologist to find what skin care products work best for you. You may also want to consider treating your uneven skin texture concerns with non-surgical skin resurfacing treatments. Utilizing radio frequency-based technology, these treatments create tiny micro-dermal wounds, which prompts skin’s natural healing cycle for a smoother complexion without the hefty downtime. These treatments are also safe for all skin tones.
It might seem cynical, but there’s only so much magic topicals can do. For those who may have enjoyed one too many drinks for one too many years, a customized non-surgical wrinkle reduction treatment plan may be your best bet. Wrinkle reduction treatments work by enhancing your skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin—the two main building blocks of smoother, firmer skin—for a naturally healthier, younger-looking appearance with absolutely no downtime.
Finally, for those looking to reduce the appearance of broken blood vessels, vascular marks on the face, or other signs of sun damage that have cropped up as a result of skin’s weakened defenses against UV exposure, seek out a customized photofacial treatment plan. Using advanced IPL technology, these treatments effectively target pigment under the skin's surface to reduce the appearance of discoloration for a more even, youthful complexion in just a few quick treatments.
Ready to reverse the effects of alcohol on the skin and take your routine to the next level with a customized non-surgical aesthetics treatment plan? Discover the best option for your aesthetic goals by contacting a certified treatment provider today! Get started by using the search field below.
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REGULATORY CLEARANCES [ More ]
Venus Bliss™ is cleared by the FDA and licensed by Health Canada for non-invasive lipolysis of the abdomen and flanks in individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or less, with the diode laser applicators. The (MP)2 applicator is cleared by the FDA for temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite, and licensed by Health Canada for temporary increase of skin tightening, temporary circumferential reduction, and temporary cellulite reduction. Venus Bliss™ has CE Mark as a non-invasive medical aesthetic device enabling a comprehensive approach leading to body contouring, addressing fat reduction, skin tightening, circumference reduction, and cellulite reduction.
Venus Versa™ is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and has CE Mark as a multi-application device intended to be used in aesthetic and cosmetic procedures. The SR515 and SR580 applicators are cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and have CE Mark for the treatment of benign pigmented epidermal and cutaneous lesions and treatment of benign cutaneous vascular lesions. The HR650/HR650XL and HR690/HR690XL applicators are cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and have CE Mark for the removal of unwanted hair and to effect stable long-term or permanent hair reduction for Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. The AC Dual applicator is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and has CE Mark for the treatment of acne vulgaris. The DiamondPolar™ and OctiPolar™ applicators on the Venus Versa™ system are cleared by the FDA for non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides on females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. The DiamondPolar™ applicator is licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides on females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. The OctiPolar™ applicator on the Venus Versa™ system is licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for temporary body contouring via skin tightening, circumferential reduction, and cellulite reduction. The NanoFractional RF™ (Viva) applicator is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and has CE Mark for dermatological procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin.
NeoGraft® is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark with indication for use in suction-assisted follicular extraction and re-implantation. It is an auto-graft system and can be used on both male and female patients.
ARTAS iX™ is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark with indication for use for harvesting hair follicles from the scalp in men diagnosed with androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) who have black or brown straight hair. ARTAS iX™ is intended to assist physicians in identifying and extracting hair follicular units from the scalp during hair transplantation; creating recipient sites; and implanting harvested hair follicles.
Venus Legacy™ is cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides in females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV with the OctiPolar™ and DiamondPolar™ applicators, and temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite with the 4D Body (LB2) and 4D Face (LF2) applicators. It is licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for the temporary increase of skin tightening, temporary circumferential reduction, temporary cellulite reduction, and temporary wrinkle reduction.
Venus Velocity™ is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for hair removal, permanent hair reduction (defined as the long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regimen), and the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae for all Fitzpatrick skin types.
Venus Fiore™ received regulatory approval in Israel for aesthetic and functional treatment of the vagina, labia and mons pubis. Venus Fiore™ is available for sale in India, Hong Kong, and other selected Asian countries.
Venus Viva™ is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada, and has CE Mark for dermatological procedures requiring ablation and resurfacing of the skin. The DiamondPolar™ applicator is cleared by the FDA, licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides in Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV.
Venus Freeze Plus™ is cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides in females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. It is licensed by Health Canada for temporary skin tightening, and temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite on the abdomen and flanks, using the DiamondPolar™ and OctiPolar™ applicators. The DiamondPolar™ applicator on Venus Freeze Plus™ has CE Mark for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides, and the increase of skin tightening, temporary circumferential reduction, and cellulite reduction with the OctiPolar™ applicator.
Venus Heal™ is licensed by Health Canada and can be used for the treatment of both acute and chronic disorders of the musculoskeletal system, such as muscle spasms, back pain, and soft tissue injuries, and results in effects such as pain relief, myorelaxation, increase of local blood circulation, and edema reduction. In the U.S., Venus Heal™ is cleared by the FDA for the relief of minor muscle aches and pain, relief of muscle spasm, and temporary improvement of local blood circulation. These indications enable the treatment of certain soft tissue injuries and conditions.
Venus Glow™ is cleared by the FDA as a Class I motorized dermabrasion device. It provides a dermal rejuvenation treatment that works to open up and deep-clean pores. Venus Concept is the exclusive distributor for Venus Glow™.
Venus Epileve™ is licensed by Health Canada and has CE Mark for hair removal, permanent hair reduction (defined as the long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regimen), and the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae for all Fitzpatrick skin types. Venus Epileve™ is also CE-Marked for hirsutism.
Venus Freeze™ is cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides in females with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. It is licensed by Health Canada for temporary skin tightening, and temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite on the abdomen and flanks, using the DiamondPolar™ and OctiPolar™ applicators. The DiamondPolar™ applicator on Venus Freeze™ has CE Mark for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides, and the increase of skin tightening, temporary circumferential reduction, and cellulite reduction with the OctiPolar™ applicator.
Venus Swan™ is cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and rhytides, and licensed by Health Canada for the non-invasive treatment of cellulite reduction, skin tightening, and temporary reduction in the appearance of stretch marks.
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