The short term side effects of alcohol in your skin.

For many of us alcohol is ingrained in our daily lives, we use it as social lubricant, to unwind at the end of a work day or to celebrate Birthdays, Holidays and special life events. However we’re no stranger to the impact on our bodies and health. I wanted to highlight the short term side effects that alcohol can cause in your skin.

One of the short term effects is dehydration, as alcohol is a diuretic which means it causes the body to make and release more urine. This means that the body loses more water and salt than usual. the effects of dehydration on skin are

• dry skin

• sunken eyes

• decreased elasticity

• dry lips

Flushing is also a side effect of drinking alcohol.

Alcohol may stimulate the release of histamines, which can cause the blood vessels under the skin to dilate. This can make a person’s complexion look flushed or inflamed, alcohol is a trigger to those prone to rosacea .

Sleep disruption is also a pretty impactful short term side effect. Alcohol impacts the brains ability to enter into REM sleep.

One to two nights of disrupted sleep can cause temporary changes to a person’s skin such as;

• darker circles under the eyes

• paler skin

• duller complexion

• more wrinkles or fine lines

It’s always best to make informed choices when it comes to your skin’s health, this post is by no means meant to condemn the use of alcohol but we also need to know how our choices can impact our skin and bodies health.

Acne myths

Foods that spike insulin production like refined sugar and carbs and excessive dairy, (especially whey protein powders), a concentrated form of dairy. The trigger appears to be related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1. These hormonal pathways are associated with many metabolic and physiologic abnormalities when they are altered. Insulin is the main hormone driving glucose sugar balance in the blood and ultimately the deposition of fat. IGF-1 structurally looks like insulin and has growth and anabolic effects on the human body. This goes on to stimulate sebum production and keratinization, creating the conditions for acne development.

Is Microneedling right for you? What results should I expect?

There are two big reasons Microneedling is one of my all time favorite treatments to perform on my clients. The first reasons is the “downtime” is negligible as in there isn’t much if it and the second is no other treatment has been clinically shown to stimulate this much collagen WITHOUT marked downtime.

I’ve recently noticed a growing rise in the demand for results driven treatments but a lot of clients cannot afford or don’t have the time to remain home for 1-2 weeks but most treatments that deliver long term results require some downtime.

Numerous studies have proven enormous amounts of collagen are produced when Microneedling is performed.

Microneedling is best performed as a preventative measure for aging and a terrific corrective treatment for

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Enlarged pores

• Acne breakouts and acne scars

• Surgical, burn, or injury scars

• Irregular skin texture, tone, and color

• Melasma (hyperpigmentation and dark spots)

• Loose skin

• Age spots

• Dull or uneven complexion

• Sun damage

• Stretch marks

Numbing cream is applied before the treatment to provide maximum comfort during the procedure.

The day of treatment the skin will feel as though you’ve had a sun burn or light chemical peel and appear pink to red. The following day you may still be experiencing some discoloration in the skin and or tenderness and tightness. Typically within 48 hours the skin looks “back to normal”, the exception being scar treatments as those targeted treatments may result in some redness for an extra 3-5 days.

Those unsuitable for Microneedling treatments are

• Active acne, especially inflammatory lesions

• Active herpes labialis or other localized infection in the treatment area, including warts.

• Moderate-to-severe chronic skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis

• Patients with extreme keloidal tendencies

• Immunosuppressed patients, including patients on chemotherapy

• Diabetics

• Patients on blood thinning medications

I do want to underline what Microneedling can and cannot do for you. Microneedling will NOT tighten the skin if there is extensive laxity, numerous treatments over time can improve laxity but it is not a replacement for cosmetic surgery such as neck and face lift, that being said it is a wonderful preventative measure for those with the beginnings of skin laxity in the face and neck. It will however provide more noticeable results in those with scarring, (not keloidal), but how many treatments you will need to see improvement differs from person to person.

What's the difference between Microdermabrasion and Dermaplane?

I get this question weekly when I have a client booking my Customized Deluxe Facial that gives you an exfoliation choice. While the two both fall under the mechanical exfoliation category they provide different benefits.

Microderm vs Dermaplane

Crystal-Free Microdermabrasion, or diamond dermabrasion, is a gently abrasive procedure that utilizes a diamond-tipped hand piece attached to a vacuum. It exfoliates by gently removing the epidermis before vacuuming away dirt and dead skin cells.

This type of exfoliation is terrific for those with thickened skin or dry and flakey skin. It is NOT recommended for those that suffer from active, pustular acne or those with red, irritated, sensitive or otherwise skin barrier compromised. It is also not recommended for those with thinner skin those with broken capillaries and clients that are taking blood thinners.

A Dermaplane utilizes a double coated scalpel blade to remove dead skin cells and as a by-product, vellus facial hair or “peach fuzz”. Unlike Crystal-Free Microdermabrasion there is no suction involved so it is a better fit for those with broken capillaries. Once again those with active, pustular acne are not candidates for Dermaplaning. Dermaplaning can also occasionally cause superficial nicks to the skin so it is not recommended for those that are on blood thinners or diabetics that do not have their blood sugar under control.

While many clients seek out Dermaplaning for hair removal it’s intended use is dead skin cell removal, the hair reduction is considered a “side effect”.

As with any skincare treatment always ask as many questions as you need with your skincare specialist to select the right treatment for you.