3 Ways Your Appearance Changes When You Quit Drinking

Sober living

3 Ways Your Appearance Changes When You Quit Drinking

For individuals attempting to recover their hair health after alcohol dependence, ensuring their body receives vital nutrients through developing better dietary patterns is an essential step in this process. Severe protein deficiencies have been linked to health issues, including those that affect the hair, skin and nails. Primarily, inadequate protein intake can prematurely shift the hair cycle into its resting phase, leading to premature shedding and loss. Hair loss and hair thinning affect thousands of men and women throughout the country.

If these tricks are not sufficient, there are options for hair loss treatments. They may help prevent future hair loss, restore growth after hair loss, or do some combination of the two. Your doctor can help you find the best treatment options available to you. You may experience sober house mood swings or other concerning personality changes, including depression, anxiety, excessive worrying, paranoia, or full-blown panic. Addiction can be extremely difficult and isolating, and dealing with hair loss as a result of this can only make this experience even harder.

Other effects of alcohol on the body

As the quality of the rest they are receiving deteriorates, the severity of their stress levels and chronic drinking will likely increase. Thus, alcohol consumption in combination with bad sleep and high levels of stress can all lead to aggravated hair loss. When the body lacks proper protein or other nutrients due to a poor diet, these nutritional deficiencies will likely cause hair loss over time, resulting from the disruption this causes to the body. Furthermore, combining heavy alcohol use with other substances may also put an individual at a higher risk of developing certain health issues, including hair loss. While there is slim evidence linking alcohol and hair loss together, illicit drug usage and abuse has been found to cause this condition in some individuals.

Therefore, it is necessary to avoid direct smoking in patients with alopecia areata. Free radicals are involved in the development and worsening of alopecia areata. Cigarette smoke contains a high concentration of free radicals, which may build up in the hair follicle, eventually leading to a breakdown of immune privilege [37,38]. In addition, indirect smoking exposure is also involved in the development of skin inflammation. Smoking exposure during childhood increases the risk for atopic dermatitis [39,40], suggesting that family cooperation is also important to avoid indirect smoking exposure in houses. For some individuals, their excessive drinking leads to participation in other poor habits, including smoking.

Dehydration and Nutrient Depletion

Drinking excessively also has a diuretic effect that can lead to lower levels of potassium and magnesium in the body. When this happens, it makes it more difficult for your body to sustain typical, healthy functions, including hair growth. No part of your body, health or life goes untouched by the effects of excessive alcohol use, and even your hair can be impacted.

• These vitamins have the right nutrients your body needs to start improving your skin, nails, and hair.
• Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can also keep your hair strong and healthy.
• Not all people who drink are smokers, but many people light up when they start drinking.
• There are several factors that can make an individual more prone to hair loss, including age, hormonal changes, and certain medical conditions (such as thyroid disorders).
• This alteration increases the Th1-mediated contact hypersensitivity response and delays clearance of skin inflammation [70].

Perhaps the most well-known study on the topic – known as the FinDrink study – aimed to investigate differences in dietary patterns in relation to the level of alcohol consumption among Finnish adults (6). Those who undergo chemo as a form of cancer treatment may experience hair loss as well. The CDC adds that as alcohol affects every system in the body, it can lead to both short- and long-term health risks. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, not getting enoughbiotin, iron, or zinc can lead to noticeable hair loss. In addition, alcohol-related liver injury can go on to affect the skin and scalp. According to the National Institutes of Health, most people in the United States get adequate zinc from their diet.

Seeking Out Medical Advice

If you need support to quit drinking, there are many resources available to help you. It’s important to address your drinking first, so your body can begin to absorb nutrients properly, regulate your hormones, and improve your overall health. As mentioned in the beginning, alcohol impacts your body’s ability to breakdown and absorb nutrients. Since your hair requires a healthy scalp, proper circulation, and a steady amount of nutrients to grow, you will experience thinning hair if you are battling alcoholism. Alcohol also makes it more difficult for your body to burn any foods you eat.

• Recommended daily intake of iron is between 11 and 18 milligrams for most nonpregnant adults.
• Long-term drinking can further deplete vitamins A, C, D, E, and K- all of which are essential for good hair health.
• However, we do know that some of the side effects of drinking alcohol could contribute to reduced hair health and, potentially, baldness.
• Recent studies have updated the importance of fatty acids in the pathogenesis of various diseases and have determined their possible therapeutic efficacy.