4 Drinks You Never Knew Could Damage Your Complexion

By the time we enter adulthood, most of us are familiar with the idea that certain foods are either good or bad for our skin. Salmon? Fantastic! Pizza? Well…probably not. But what about beverages? We know that water is the best drink for hydrating our cells and keeping our skin looking firm and fresh. But are there drinks that we need to avoid? Are there certain beverages that can dry out our skin or increase acne? In short, the answer is yes.  Let’s take a look at four drinks you never knew could damage your complexion.

Red Wine
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s true. In fact, red wine is one of the worst, most damaging beverages for your skin. The alcohol in wine opens the blood vessels and causes an increased blood flow. This can result in flushed, red, and blotchy skin. Even worse, red wine causes our bodies to release histamines, which also contributes to increased redness and flushing.

White Wine
I’m sorry! I really wish it weren’t true, but the fact is, white wine isn’t great for your skin. Similar to its red counterpart, white wine causes an increased risk of rosacea. But that’s not the worst of it. There is a ton of sugar in white wine. Maybe there isn’t as much as that margarita you had with the girls last week, but there is still enough to cause concern. It’s these high levels of sugar that lead to inflammation, which causes cell damage and skin aging.

Coffee
I know, I know. You’re probably thinking that this is the worst list imaginable, right? How can coffee possibly be bad for our skin? Well, it’s the caffeine mostly. Caffeine increases our body’s natural stress response, which can release additional hormones. And as we’ve all experienced, hormonal acne is a real thing. Look, I’m not saying that drinking coffee will definitely cause pimples, but it has been shown to increase the severity of acne already present on your skin.

Soda
This is the worst culprit of all because it incorporates the harmful components of red wine, white wine, and coffee – altogether in one toxic beverage. Similar to red wine, sodas cause inflammation in our bodies and lead to increased risk of rosacea. In fact, soda drinkers and heavy smokers are at equal risk of inflammation. Plus, there is literally a pile of sugar in each soda. And just like white wine, this sugar leads to cell damage and accelerated aging. Don’t forget about the caffeine! The caffeine in sodas is known to increase the deepening of facial lines and the severity of acne.

Enjoying small amounts of wine and coffee in moderation is probably okay. It’s fine to sip a delicious beverage every once in a while without worrying about your skin’s health. But when it comes to soda, just steer clear.