Alcohol and Aging: Does Drinking Make You Look Older?

But that doesn’t mean you should also give up your social life. She said the worst thing you can do during this process is isolate yourself. While your skin can regain its supple and dewy complexion after several days of rehydration, broken blood vessels are a lot harder to fix. The hangover may be a distant memory, but undoing its effects is a long process– made easier by retinol. A topical form of vitamin A, it binds to receptors in the skin cells that trigger regeneration, so the dull top layers fall away.

When a person’s body is rid of toxins from alcohol, he or she will have better skin, healthier hair and nails, and a younger complexion. Research conducted at the University of Liverpool found that individuals who drink alcohol regularly throughout the day are attracted to salty and fatty foods. This may be explained by a shift in hormones, especially leptin. It was uncovered that leptin levels decrease by half after a person consumes large amounts of alcohol. Again, alcohol affects the skin and can cause negative deterioration of various internal systems.

Final Thoughts About Alcohol and Aging Effects

There’s no better time than now to take steps to stop drinking. Along with a person’s exterior weight and skin, there are other aging issues that are related to excessive drinking. It becomes difficult to plan, pay attention, remember information, and learn. Excessive alcohol use increases free radicals in the body and causes sleep disruptions, which can lead to poor cognitive function.

This increases the risk of falls, car crashes, and other accidents. It’s common knowledge that drinking too much can lead to alcoholism. But now you know that it can also be a reason you look and feel much older than you really are.

Getting the help you need for alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder

Overall, the less you drink, the more energetic and youthful you will feel. Feeling better inside almost always means looking better on the outside. It’s best to follow the guidelines for moderate drinking — but, unfortunately, says Dr. Ford, few people do. In addition, if you “drink” more calories than you eat, that puts you at risk for nutritional deficiencies, which are also more common among the elderly. We Level Up NJ has amenities, therapies, and activities with customized recovery plans in place.

• Likewise, the way that you view your body has a profound impact on your self-worth.
• People who drink even a moderate amount are at higher risk for traffic accidents, possibly resulting in injury or death to themselves and others.
• 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.
• It can impact your physical, emotional, and spiritual health, too—making you not only look but also feel older than you are.

This can make a drink very calorific –  for example, a pint of lager can contain the same amount of calories as a slice of pizza, or a large glass of wine the same an ice cream sundae. Drinking while taking prescribed medications can have undesirable effects. does drinking make you look older For example, alcohol used with allergy medications can make you very drowsy. Or you may develop liver damage when drinking alcohol with common painkillers like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Another common effect of aging caused by alcohol is tooth decay.

Alcohol and Aging Effects: Does Alcohol Make You Look Older and Cause Wrinkles?

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 [3]. As we age, it takes longer for the body to break down alcohol.