What’s your vice then? A large glass of red wine to help you unwind after a hard days work? A chocolate covered biscuit to dunk in your cup of afternoon tea? That cigarette that you just have to have to deal with the stresses of modern life? Or a handful (half a tub) of sunflower seeds that you just have to have pre dinner…..? Yep ok the last sad addiction is mine…could be worse!!
All this over indulgence after the festive season, and yes I did over indulge and no not just on sunflower seeds, got me to thinking that its usual at this time of year to want to kick some of our bad habits and set ourselves that new years resolution (if you haven’t read last weeks blog then Hello! Where have you been?)
So I thought I would, over the next four weeks, take a closer look at the above vices and their negative, and in one case, positive effects on our skin. What are these bad habits are doing to your complexion and some little tips on how you can maybe repair a bit of the damage caused.
This week its; Alcohol…
The immediate effect of your G & T, glass of wine or pint of lager is to cause a flushing sensation in the skin. This varies, in degree, from person to person, however even if you don’t end up looking like you’ve been extremely embarrassed or just stepped out of a sauna, it doesn’t mean that these little blood vessels aren’t working away madly. Now this action, in small doses, has actually, according to research, been found to be beneficial to not only your skin but the whole of your circulatory system. It’s when we start to abuse the quantities of alcohol that this constant constriction and dilation of those little capillaries eventually causes them to become damaged. In some cases they can be seen under the surface of the skin and in lamens terms maybe referred to as broken capillaries.
These not only look unsightly, but are no longer able to do their job which is to ferry Oxygen and vital nutrients to our skin cells to keep our skin looking healthy.
Alcohol is also a diuretic, which tends to be what gives us the hangover. Our body is forced to lose water and unless replaced can lead to headaches and nausea, need I go on. This dehydration is seen on our skins as obvious areas of dryness, sallow colour, and fine, creapy lines.
Then there’s the obvious fact that excessive alcohol consumption causes extra stress on the Liver. I am expecting to see a lot of this effect manifesting itself in my clients skin as outbreaks usually in the mid lower forehead area, since in Chinese philosophy they believe that this area of the face is linked with the Liver.
Help!!... is at hand quite literally as if you have had one of my bespoke facial treatments you will know that my treatments are about taking an inside/out approach to treating the skin. Aside from having professional treatments with a skin therapist and specialist you can start by reducing your consumption and increasing your water intake. This is quite an obvious first step to improving your skins chances of recovery.
Next I suggest taking the tincture of Milk Thistle which is a great Liver support and will aid detoxification.
Look for moisturisers that contain ingredients that will act as ‘Osmoprotectors’ these are molecules that help to attract and bind moisture into your skin. All the products I use and recommend have this ability.
And finally, if you look forward to your weekend tipple then swap spirits for wine or beer and drink plenty of water with your alcohol to stave of that morning after the night before reflection in the mirror.
www.u-treatments.co.uk
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