Toast to Clear Skin: Embrace Dry January for a Radiant Glow

Dry January originating in the UK in 2013 as a public health campaign, has since gained popularity as a way to “dry out” after the holidays and allow people to to reassess their relationship with alcohol. It turns out that abstaining from alcohol not only decreases inflammation in the liver but also in the skin!

Although alcohol is technically a "drink", it is also a diuretic that promotes dehydration. Because of the lack of hydration, the skin shows signs of dryness, loss of elasticity, fine lines, and even dark undereye circles. The high sugar content in many tasty cocktails (i.e. margaritas) interferes with the production of collagen and elastin in our skin. Therefore, putting down the bottle this month will help bring out your youthful glow.

Ever enjoy a glass of wine and end up flushed from your chest to your forehead? Stopping alcohol consumption, even briefly, can help reduce the redness that isn't always as quick to fade as the hangover. Alcohol can also act as a trigger for skin conditions like eczema, acne, or psoriasis. So, needless to say, by sobering up you can expect not only your flush to fade but for some chronic skin conditions to improve.  

This 4-week reset helps improve sleep, encourage weight loss (with the decreased caloric intake from not drinking), enhance mood, increase energy levels, and last but not least improve skin health! So, cheers! I'll (not) drink to that. 

Emily Weibel, APRN