bad habits: drinking
The visible damage
As soon as you take that first sip of wine, your skin begins to dehydrate. As well as making you dry and puffy, alcohol is a stimulant that causes increased skin flushing. “If you drink consistently, that’s every day for a few months, you’ll start to see dilated capillaries and the first signs of ageing,” says Emma Hobson, education manager at the International Dermal Institute. “This can become permanent and lead to sagging skin and visible thread veins.” If that isn’t enough, your complexion will also start to look sallow and experience breakouts. This is because alcohol affects the circulation and wreaks havoc on your liver and kidneys. “You’re literally injecting them with a hit of toxins that the body has to get rid of,” Hobson adds. Combined with a late night and disturbed sleep (caused by falling blood sugar levels overnight), you’ll wake up with more than just a hangover.
The deeper damage
The problems caused by drinking don’t just end with a few fine lines and wrinkles. There are far more serious risks associated with daily alcohol consumption. Paul Dillon of Drug and Alcohol Research Training Australia says, “What’s worrying are the long-term effects it has on the body.” Constant, excessive drinking impairs your liver function, which can lead to it becoming inflamed and fatty, and even to cirrhosis. What’s more, diabetes, breast cancer and even brain damage are all conditions that can be caused by alcohol. “Consume just three units a day and you’ll triple your risk of these conditions,” Dillon says. There’s further evidence suggesting that heavy drinking can affect a woman’s fertility by disrupting ovulation patterns.
What you can do now
Cut back and the health risks of drinking will be immediately reduced. The Australian Department of Health and Ageing recommends women drink no more than two standard drinks each day, with at least two alcohol-free days every week. A standard drink contains about 10g of alcohol, regardless of the container size or alcohol type. An average 150ml glass of wine accounts for one-and-a-half standard drinks; a gin and tonic (with one 30ml shot of the spirit) equates to one standard drink. Nutritionist Cherie Lyden has these tips for minimising damage: drink water before, during and after your alcoholic drink; make your wine a spritzer – it’s got fewer kilojoules; drink alcohol with a meal, not by itself and avoid binge drinking. Your skin will give you a glowing thanks.
Key needs: Hydration, brightening and detoxing.
1. Line Peel Crystalescent, $110, by Biotherm at Myer, 1800 811 611. Illuminates the skin while refining its texture.
2. Auto Pilot Altitude Lotion Toner and Destresser, $45, by Napoleon Perdis, 1800 814 572. Calms, hydrates and refines broken capillaries.
3. Peel & Reveal Revitalizing Treatment, $66, by Elizabeth Arden, 02 9409 7700. This awakens the skin with alpha and beta hydroxy acids and vitamin-rich cabernet grapeseed extract.
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