7 Signs Alcohol Affects Your Physical Appearance

Unlike alcoholics, binge drinkers may drink heavily on the weekends but can get through the week without a drink. This form of drinking still has harmful side effects and can lead to an alcohol use disorder (AUD) over time. Immediately after drinking alcohol, your heart rate and blood pressure will rise. However, once the substance is out of your system, your vital signs will return to normal. Excessive alcohol consumption is more dangerous because it causes an irregular heartbeat and weakens your heart muscles over time.

Is a licensed and practicing pharmacist and medical writer who specializes in different substances, the effects of substance abuse, and substance use disorder. There are many other areas of appearance outside of the skin and face that can be affected by alcohol abuse. The treatment for a high-functioning alcoholic is the same as for any other type of addict, Benton says.

Are You a High-Functioning Alcoholic?

The facial signs of alcoholism are also linked to nutritional deficiencies caused by heavy drinking. Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and process certain vitamins and minerals. As a result, those who drink heavily are more likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies. People who consume large amounts of alcohol regularly often undergo physical and psychological changes to the face. When alcohol is consumed, it is metabolized by the body and broken down into acetaldehyde.

However, 10 to 20 percent of alcoholics develop cirrhosis, which is the most severe form of liver disease. The reason is unclear, but it is often linked to drinking patterns, body weight, type II diabetes, gender, and/or genetics. Most importantly, if you stop drinking, you are likely to see an improvement physical appearance of an alcoholic in your overall appearance. But, every person is different, and how long it may take to see results, if you’re able to see results at all, can vary. Talk to a doctor today to get started, and reach out to alcohol addiction treatment centers today to get started on your path to sobriety.

Do I Have an Alcohol Problem?

Alcohol can cause your face to become temporarily red and flushed (3). This occurs when your body breaks down alcohol and creates acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde makes your body release histamine, which enlarges your blood vessels (known as vasodilation). Other signs of alcohol use disorder are related to drinking frequency, habits, and its impact on relationships, which we’ll explore below.

Ask your doctor about getting help — whether it’s from a therapist, psychiatrist, or other addiction specialist. Organizations like the American Society of Addiction Medicine can guide you to help, too. People with alcohol use disorder can appear responsible and productive.They might even be a high achiever or in a position of power.

Alcohol Abuse Correlates to Mental Illness

A review of the 11 factors set forth in the DSM-5 regarding severe alcohol use disorder (i.e., the presence of six or more factors) provides additional insight into this condition. Having six or more of the alcohol use disorder symptoms would indicate the need for a treatment intervention to address the addiction. Individuals with an alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) will likely experience the symptoms of physical dependence as well as psychological effects.

In the long term, these vessels can over-dilate, leading to spider veins on the skin. Scientists and researchers actually have very limited knowledge about what actually happens while we sleep; in fact, science isn’t entirely sure why the body even needs sleep in the first place! But anecdotal evidence tells us that this REM stage of the sleep cycle is critical for feeling refreshed and rested. Studies have revealed that in an average night, a healthy person experiences approximately six to eight bouts of REM sleep. A person who has consumed one or more drinks before going to bed may experience just one or two bouts of REM sleep throughout the course of the night. The result is that you wake up feeling as though you haven’t slept a wink.

Alcohol abuse can have a serious and negative impact on a person’s life, yet it can be difficult to spot the signs and symptoms. Physical warning signs of alcohol abuse can help recognize the issue before it progresses too far. Knowing what physical signs to look for can help you recognize when someone you care about is struggling. The term “alcoholism”, although commonly still used in everyday language is considered outdated by addiction and health professionals because it carries a negative stigma and bias. Medical understanding of problematic alcohol consumption has progressed considerably. Today, clinicians understand that the condition is a mental health disorder and treat it as they would diabetes or high blood pressure.

• The liver is extremely affected by alcohol use, and over time fat can build up in this vital organ causing inflammation and potentially liver failure.
• Many substance use and alcohol problems are the result of mental health disorders and self-medicating.
• Contact AspenRidge treatment for information on evidence-based programs that offer mental health and substance addiction support at all stages.
• The classic picture of someone with alcohol use disorder  is someone who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart because of it.