Alcohol has been known to have very negative effects on the skin. After a night of drinking
the skin may look pale, grey and tired. Alcohol dehydrates the body, draining it of fluids and
can deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients.
Alcohol dilates the small blood vessels in the skin, making it look redder than usual and sometimes thin red
streaks will become visible. If you drink heavily over extended periods of time alcohol can cause more
permanent effects on your skin such as Rosacea. This is a skin disorder that causes sufferers to blush and
flush easily, and can eventually lead to permanent facial disfigurement.
Alcohol can also leave a lingering smell in the body. Although the liver is able to metabolise most alcohol, 5-10%
still leaves the body through breath, sweat and urine.
Alcohol interferes with the normal sleeping process, and drinking before going to bed can send you straight
into a deep sleep. This causes you to miss out on the first stage of sleep known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
sleep. When you are in deep sleep your body restores itself, but as the alcohol wears off your body slips back
into REM sleep which is a lot easier to wake up from. Many people will wake up after just a few hours when they
have been drinking. Throughout the night you would normally have six to seven cycles of REM sleep which will
normally leave you feeling refreshed when you wake up. If you have been drinking, you may only have one or two
cycles, which will leave you feeling drained and short of rest when you do wake up.
Drinking regularly above the recommended daily guidelines means the body is in a constant
state of trying to catch up on the rest that it needs. You may find that you are not as alert
or as focused as you normally are.
Not exceeding the recommended daily alcohol limit should allow you to wake up feeling
refreshed.
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