IS YOUR HOLIDAY TIPPLE AGEING YOU?

Don't let al fresco celebrations sabotage your skin. Our expert tips will keep you looking and feeling youthful

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Experience regular hangovers? Complexion looking lacklustre? Your boozing might be to blame. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it forces out water and leaves skin dry and flaky, with wrinkles and lines more visible, says aesthetic nurse Nina Prisk*.

But, fear not – you don’t need to give up your summer sipping – with these healthy lifestyle tweaks, you can enjoy a drink without putting yourself at risk of premature ageing.

SUN, SEA AND SENSITIVITY

Not only does drinking alcohol mean we might forget to reapply sunscreen, but those poolside cocktails can also disrupt the skin’s protective barrier to ultraviolet light. 

‘Alcohol reduces the concentration of antioxidants in the skin, which affects the neutralisation of free radicals,’ says Dr Sasha Dhoat, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Clinics. And it’s these free radicals which break down our skin’s collagen. The result? ‘Increased upper facial lines, under-eye puffiness, sagging cheeks and flushing or spider veins,’ adds skin expert Gina Akers**.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Going heavy on the tipples can also stop you being sensible in the sun – in fact, people who drink heavily are 52%*** more likely to be sunburnt than those who don’t, found one study. A high SPF sunscreen is a must, even on cloudy days. Aim for factor 50 with both UVA and UVB protection, and reapply every two hours and after going for a dip.

EAT SMART