What Does an Alcoholic's Face Look Like? Recognize Characteristic Features

Symptoms of Alcoholism on the Face

Symptoms of alcohol disease are sometimes difficult to notice. Addiction often starts with sporadic drinking. Some consume ethyl alcohol in solitude so that no one finds out about the problem. It's important to remember that any alcoholic beverage is harmful regardless of its type and quantity. Internal changes are the most difficult to notice because the body weakens gradually. Symptoms of addiction, on the other hand, are easier to notice when looking at an addicted person. The change in a drinker's facial appearance is striking, especially when it comes to the facial features of an alcoholic. Several characteristics are worth paying attention to. Observance can help someone start alcoholism treatment faster.

How to recognize the face of a female or male alcoholic:

  • facial swelling after alcohol – the cause of swelling is enlarged blood vessels, whose structure is weakened by excessive alcohol consumption.
  • skin damage – alcohol strongly dries out the skin, making it more susceptible to infections and inflammatory processes that affect its quality and the alcoholic's appearance.
  • deeper and more visible wrinkles – regular alcohol consumption leads to decreased collagen production, which accelerates processes caused by free radicals and thus ages the skin.
  • reddened face after alcohol – the red face of an alcoholic is caused by bursting blood vessels, as a result of which redness can be seen on the face of an addicted person, especially in the area of the alcoholic's nose.
  • gray and dull complexion – alcohol causes the body to dehydrate (1 liter of beer leads to a loss of 1400 ml of fluids), which is why changes are particularly visible around the alcoholic's eyes in the form of bruises or shadows.
Excessive alcohol consumption negatively affects the absorption of nutrients – this particularly concerns vitamins A and C. The skin is therefore exposed to pollutants and sunlight. The body is dehydrated, weakened, and exposed to permanent changes in appearance. One of the main components of alcoholic beverages is sugar. Many changes on the face are particularly characteristic of long-term alcoholics. Such changes include the red-blue, cauliflower-like alcoholic nose. This is a special type of swelling caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the nose area. Remember also that swelling itself may indicate damage to internal organs such as the liver or kidneys. Its excessive amount causes changes in the DNA code and leads to aging of tissues and cells. Changes on an alcoholic's face make a person look older and more tired than they actually are. Read also and see: What does the face of an alcoholic's child look like? – FAS syndrome

Characteristic Appearance of an Alcoholic

The negative impact of alcohol on health is mainly associated with the condition of internal organs, diseases, and chronic illnesses. However, some changes also concern external appearance. Facial swelling after alcohol, redness, or purple shadows are some of the characteristic changes. An addicted person exposes the entire body to the negative effects of alcoholic beverages. Every glass means additional calories. Too much sugar causes excessive cavity production, which negatively affects teeth. Hair and nails become brittle and dried out. The complexion becomes dull, and the face looks more tired. The alcohol problem intensifies negative skin changes, exposes to psoriasis and often contributes to acne formation. Weight can increase or decrease depending on diet and eating habits. This external "metamorphosis" after years of drinking, however, is reversible. Only sobriety can help, but you need to wait a bit for appearance improvement.

Alcoholic Nose

The alcoholic nose is a skin condition that is often characterized by swelling, redness, and bumps on the nose surface. Although this appearance is often called an alcoholic nose or drinker's nose, it is actually a skin disease. It derives from rosacea (acne disease). Chronic inflammation causes blood vessels to burst and pustules on or around the nose, giving it a red, swollen, and uneven appearance.

Why an Alcoholic's Face Swells

Due to addiction, alcohol tolerance constantly increases. Addicted people poison their body through excessive consumption of ethyl alcohol. Facial swelling after alcohol is caused by the dilation of small blood vessels. Characteristic nose redness and so-called spider veins on the cheeks are the norm. Alcoholics often don't notice this because they are used to their appearance and focus their attention mainly on alcohol abuse. The swelling disappears when there is no more alcohol in the body and the condition of blood vessels returns to normal. In the case of people who are in constant binge drinking and cannot stop consuming ethyl alcohol, there is no possibility for the facial appearance to change.
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