Your Skin Could Actually Be Hungover Too - Here's How To Fix It

No matter how thoroughly we remove our make-up after a boozy night out - or the litres of water we down before going to bed - we always end up with a breakout in the days that follow.

Whether it's the lack of sleep, the alcohol itself, or that massive pizza you smashed at the end of the night, hangover skin is very real - and, just like hangovers in general, they seem to get worse with age...

To find out why hangover skin happens and what we can do about it, we chatted to Dr Shaaira Nasir, consultant dermatologist at sk:n. Dr Nasir explained exactly why one too many pornstar martinis can result in a breakout - and the steps we can take to avoid it this Christmas.

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Dr Nasir tells Tyla: "Alcohol with high sugar content causes a quick spike in your insulin. This sudden surge causes a release in the androgen hormone which makes our skin produce more oil which in turn can cause blackheads, whiteheads and acne.

"Alcohol is also pro-inflammatory which contributes to puffiness and also worsening of inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, urticaria (hives) - and it can worsen redness in rosacea through histamine release.

"As alcohol is a diuretic, it can also cause the skin to look dull and increase fine lines. As well as breakouts, the high sugar content can also cause glycation - a process which hardens our collagen causing the skin to age faster."

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The good news is we don't have to cut out alcohol altogether - instead, there are ways to minimise the effects - and it's all about keeping our skin hydrated throughout.

"Make sure to keep hydrated by alternating your drink with water. Avoid alcohol with high sugar content such as cocktails or drinks with salt which can also add to dehydration," explains Dr Nasir.

And while we always do our best to follow our skincare regime after a night out, repeating this in the morning is just as important.

"After a night out, always wash your face first thing in the morning to remove any excess make-up which might have been left behind after a night out," Dr Nasir adds.

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"Pat your face dry and apply an antioxidant serum containing ingredients such as vitamin C and E. These have anti-ageing properties and fight off ageing caused by pollutants.

"Apply an eye cream and moisturiser with hydrating ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and glycerin.

"Don't forget your SPF every morning and be sure you're drinking plenty of water the next day to rehydrate yourself."

We're determined to enter 2021 with fresh, glowy skin this year...

Topics: Life News, Beauty, Skincare

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].

@lucedevine