There are quite a few different myths regarding various things that can make your acne worse and cause further breakouts with alcohol being one of them. Chances are you have probably heard that alcohol as well as chocolate and even exercising can cause acne to worsen.
The fact of the matter is that it differs from person to person and there still isn’t any hard evidence to indicate that there is a direct correlation between alcohol consumption and acne breakouts. Certain people who consume a significant amount of alcohol sometimes wake up the next day, only to find that their acne has become even worse than it was before.
There are always going to be certain myths and triggers to discuss, but not all of them are going to be true. In the case of alcohol, it is more a matter of what the alcohol does to your body rather than the alcohol itself. Those who are social drinkers will want to make sure to learn as much as possible about the connection between alcohol and acne.
Does Alcohol Cause Acne?
First of all, alcohol consumption does not cause acne in and of itself, but rather it can have a certain effect on the body to where existing acne can worsen. Dehydration is one of the main concerns when you are drinking alcoholic beverages. There is no doubt that alcohol tends to dehydrate the skin, which is perhaps one of the most significant reasons that there is a supposed connection between alcohol and acne.
Water is good for the skin because it does the exact opposite of alcohol, which is hydrating it and making sure that it does not become too dry. Irritation of the skin can easily occur when it is too dry and that is something which can be a problem when consuming alcohol. When the skin starts to dry out it becomes more susceptible to toxins, sometimes leading to problems with existing acne on the skin.
Although you will need to drink quite a bit for alcohol to cause significant damage to your liver, some people who are social drinkers can develop fat deposits on their livers which in turn block liver cells from getting the necessary blood to function properly. This is another one of the possible reasons why some dermatologists and others believe that there is a connection between alcohol and acne.
When the liver cells don’t get the necessary amount of blood to function the way they should, the liver doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. When your liver is damaged even slightly from alcohol consumption over time, it starts to present on the skin.
In the case of severe liver damage, one’s skin can begin to take on a yellow shade which is known as jaundice. A less serious form of liver damage can lead to pimples forming on the surface of the skin and mild irritation/redness.
There is a good chance that if you are fairly intoxicated after a night of drinking, you will neglect to clean your face thoroughly as you do every other day. Our skin gets used to a certain routine of cleansing and when it is suddenly deprived of that regimen, bad things can happen.
You could find that failing to clean your face properly for even one night can lead to problems with the skin on certain areas of your face or body in the morning. This is likely one of the primary reasons why so many people believe there is a correlation between alcohol and acne.
If you are planning on drinking, the best thing you can do is to make sure you follow through with your acne treatment regimen before going to bed.
Another possible explanation as to why alcohol is associated with acne is because of the fact that Candida which is a fungus found in a lot of sugary drinks and foods can breed very easily in our bodies once it is consumed. Although it usually poses no threat to our overall health, when it is combined with something like stress or alcohol, the result can be less than desirable. Although you may think that you are just having an acne outbreak, you may be going through a Candida infection which has in turn aggravated your skin condition.
Those who consider themselves to be social drinkers will want to do everything in their power to prevent acne from becoming even worse after consuming some of these beverages.
Of course one of the best things you will be able to do is to choose non-alcoholic beverages or if you feel the need to drink, make sure to drink plenty of water so dehydration will not become a problem. Since dehydration is probably one of the major contributing factors to acne problems with regards to alcohol consumption, it is important to make sure you get plenty of water when you drink.
Check this: Can Honey Help You To Get Rid Of Acne?