Alcohol Face

[Melodymoo]

Hey,
I have been heavy drinking for the past few years and can start to notice the effects it's having on my 40yr old face. Puffy face, bags, fine lines appearing deeper, hair becoming thin and snapping. I am now having more alcohol free days with the intention to stop altogether.
I look after my skin, wear nice products and make up but I just dont recognise myself anymore. A penny has dropped and I need to change.

Anyone here have any advice on how to can help revive and repair my skin after heavy drinking? Supplements, etc?

Thanks for your help 🤗

Well done for reducing your alcohol intake.

Drinking plenty of water is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Make sure you drink 2l of water a day and you'll notice a massive difference in a couple of weeks

Take a decent multivitamin. Alcohol depleted several vitamins in the body, which won't help with the skin hair issues.

Thank you 😊

I'm currently taking B12 injection, High dose B complex, Iron, Vit D, Biotin, Turmeric. Hoping they will help soon. I'd like to find a good collagen too.

Can u stop completely for a month? Honestly, it is like magic! After I stopped completely (although it didn’t last and I’m still battling) the bags under my eyes that I was seriously contemplating surgery for went away completely!! It was one of the most noticeable signs that alcohol was destroying my body.

OP when I quit my face puffed right up before it slimmed down. Honestly, I would focus of healing your lovely brain first and your skin will follow. Good job on the B Bits, they're very important. I'm 4 years sober now and my skin is miles happier 😊 Partially because I actually take my makeup off and put my moisturizer on because I'm not pissed every night lol

The best of luck on your journey!

Re collagen, I use Vital Protein collagen powder and have really noticed a difference in my skin. Just pop a scoop or two in your tea or coffee in the morning.

I'm certainly going to try. I'm bored of this life now, it's not bringing me joy and I want to look after my health. Well done on trying yourself, I'm sure you'll do it. The fact that you want to says a lot x

Will just staying in recovery help heal my brain? Looking forward to my memory being a lot better. 4yrs sober? Wow!! Congratulations, that's incredible. x

I've just been looking at that online. Can you taste it?

Thanks

My skin got loads better after I quit drinking just give it a bit of time

hyaluronic acid, collagen, vitamin c, glutathione and magnesium vitamins. Best when all are liposomal. For brain/memory recovery try lion's mane and/or Ginkgo.

You may need thiamine, it is best taken as benfotiamine as it is more easily absorbed in that form, also goes better with magnesium.

I’ve read in scientific journals that your brain will start to right itself after 2 weeks AF as in neurotransmitters will start to correct themselves. However, some addiction psychiatrists reckon it can take up to a year to fully correct the damage alcohol does, particularly to dopamine pathways.

Not really. I have it a cup of tea first thing, and it does alter the taste very slightly, and gives it a sort of silkier texture, but I’m so used to it now that I don’t even notice. I think in a strong coffee you would barely notice it.

I know the baggy face of which you speak, having been there myself... 😝I can even spot a heavy drinker by their face now, like the gravity's been turned up, and a dullness that no creams or make up can disguise... I also found that it doesn't matter what else you're putting in or on your body if you're also pouring alcohol in.

Honestly, give it a month, I bet your skin will be a lot brighter and lighter and your mood and memory will start to perk up. Sleep lots, drink lots of water and get out for walk every day and you'll be golden! 28 days left of March, that's four weeks, go on... 😁

I love this! Thanks so much. I feel really positive now. Going to take a selfie tomorrow morning and every Monday so I can compare to remind myself how well im doing x

Put a spring in your step for Spring! 🌸👍

Alcohol destroys collagen, and dehydrates you and makes you puffy at the same time. It’s just cruel!

The biggest revelation to me was sober hair! After about 6 months my hair was so much thicker and shiny. And my eyes and skin became so much clearer.

You won’t need expensive supplements if you become free of alcohol (although you will save so much money by not drinking that you can afford to treat yourself, if that makes you happy!)

Good luck.

@Onewildandpreciouslife - so true

I agree with you about 'booze face'. I have it. It's a very specific look and I find that within a few weeks of stopping everything slimmed down and I became less puffy and my eyes brighter. Like you can always tell a heavy smoker from their skin.

I belong to an online fb group 'The Sober Cafe' and many people post photos and the difference is striking. I keep falling off the wagon sadly but the pictures do inspire me.

I regularly stop for a month or so at a time and sadly I look no different! Tend to get better quality sleep but thats about it

@IDontLikePinaColadas - is it this one?
Think you’ve sold me on it!
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/vital-proteins-collagen-peptides-unflavoured-60051532

@FUBAR77 that's the one - figured if it's good enough for Jennifer Aniston, it's good enough for me.

@IDontLikePinaColadas - perhaps even the secret to her hair!!? If I end up like with shampoo advert hair, just know I’ll always be thinking of you a a MN angel!

What you put on your skin matters very little if you’re drinking a lot. Give it time. Cutting out the drink, eating well and getting outside will make you look and feel loads better.