does alcohol consumption effect skin?!

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For the first time ever, women are drinking as much as men. But how does excessive alcohol affect the female body?

Pregnancy
Whatever you eat or drink while pregnant goes directly through your bloodstream into the placenta. Some experts believe that drinking any alcohol while pregnant increases health risks for the baby, while others believe a small amount does not have any damaging effects.
A recent study found that, during early pregnancy, women drinking 10 units of alcohol on a single occasion were more likely to have a child with a congenital abnormality than those who avoided alcohol.

Memory
Tests show heavy drinking affects memory, learning, reaction time, spatial perception, abstract thinking and complex reasoning.
Memory and judgment problems are the result of the toxic effects of alcohol on nerve cells. If you drink heavily over a long period and then stop suddenly, you can be susceptible to fits, seizures and blackouts, which can be fatal or have permanent effects on the brain.

Teeth
Alcoholics have poor dental health, due to poor oral hygiene. Alcohol also increases the risk of gum infections.

Breasts
A recent study showed that women who drank as little as one drink a day had a 9 per cent increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who abstained. A further 9 per cent risk was added for each drink, up to five drinks a day.
Other studies have found that heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with a small (averaging 10 per cent) increase in a woman's risk of breast cancer.

Digestive tract
Chronic heavy drinkers have a higher incidence of oesophageal cancer than the general population. The risk appears to increase as alcohol consumption increases. An estimated 75 per cent of oesophageal cancers in the UK are attributable to excessive alcohol consumption.

Nails
Strong, healthy nails rely on a balanced intake of nutrients and from plenty of water, both of which are depleted with increased alcohol consumption. In some cases, poor nails may also point to iron deficiency or liver problems, which can both be caused by a high intake of alcohol.

Hair
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it causes accelerated dehydration. A lack of body fluid causes dry and brittle hair. Excessive alcohol consumption can deplete levels of iron in the body, leading to hair loss.

Stomach
Gastritis (chronic stomach upset) can be caused by short-term alcohol abuse: drink inflames the stomach lining and can lead to vomiting, which, if chronic, can lead to tears of the oesophagus.
Digestive haemorrhages are common in alcoholics. They are due to the rupture of oesophageal veins, changes to the gastric mucus or ulceration. Chronic gastritis can result in anaemia and malnutrition.
Having a meal an hour before drinking can significantly slow down the effects of alcohol on the stomach.

Muscles/bones
Heavy drinking can lead to a condition called alcoholic myositis, which is inflammation of the muscles, mainly in the shoulders and chest. It causes a lot of pain and is quite common among heavy drinkers.

Skin
Studies have found that high levels of alcohol consumption can exacerbate the skin condition psoriasis (reddish spots and patches covered with silvery scales). Bruising is also increased, due to a lack of vitamin C. The skin may also become dryer due to higher levels of dehydration caused by drinking.

Brain
Heavy, prolonged alcohol abuse is thought to be the third highest cause of dementia (permanent loss of brain cells) in hospitalised patients. W ithout treatment, it lead s to pro -gressive mental deterioration.

Oesophagus
Oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus) is the main complication of gastrooesophageal reflux. This is caused by the toxic effect of alcohol on the oesophagus, making it more permeab le and allowing the entry of cytoto xic substances. Without treatment and abstinence from alcohol, it can progress to ulcers.
Heavy alcohol abuse isthe main factor in oesophageal cancer in the western world. Therisk is considerably increasedwhere there is combined alcohol and tobacco addiction.

Nerves
Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to inflammation of the nerves in the arms and legs, leading to symptoms such as tingling and pain. It is caused mainly b y vitamin deficiency, but isn't t

Joints
A common cause of gout, which is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints due to the build-up of crystals of uric acid, is strongly linked to heavy drinking. Gout is generally a genetically inherited condition, but it is exacerbated by alcohol.

Alcohol enlarges the blood vessels in the skin each time a person drinks. The blood vessels continue to be enlarged until they lose their quality or tone, and a permanent redness to appear on one's face. If a person suffers from a condition referred to as acne rosacea, drinking too much alcohol irritates this condition. Also, blemishes and blotchy bumps appear on the face. Skin wrinkles can occur after an extended period of alcohol abuse because the water in the body and skin is continually evaporated. This occurs because alcohol is a powerful dehydrating substance. Also, overindulgence of alcohol causes a decrease in the body's level of vitamin A. This is a very important antioxidant vitamin that supports body and skin health.

yes
Drinking alcohol in moderation has some positive health benefits; however, when a person drinks too much there are grave side effects. Some of the side effects include health problems such as liver diseases including hepatitis (inflammation) and cirrhosis (hardening) of the liver. There are also other symptoms such as memory failure, hysterics, failure of intellectual capacity, depression and delusion. In addition, some heavy drinkers experience stomach cancer, bleeding, ulcers, depression, anxiety, moodiness and gastric troubles. When alcohol is consumed irresponsibly, heart failure, infertility and damage to a pregnant woman's baby can result. Drinking too much also leads to malnutrition, inflammation of the pancreas, skin problems and osteoporosis. Obesity is also a consequence due to the high caloric intake of alcohol.

Yes. My brother's ex girlfriend turned into an alcoholic so obviously she drank a lot of alcohol. She used to have lovely skin but since she started drinking it turned all red and blotchy, greasy and really spotty. It looked awful.

No, only the brain