Emer O'Callaghan: Alcohol can have an impact on our skin...let’s be more drink aware

Here I am pictured with the famous O’Callaghan family Ball Of The World drinks cabinet. It is well over 55 years old now and very sentimental.

The story goes that long before I was born, when my parents bought our family home in Bishopstown, one day my mum saw this drinks cabinet in the window of Casey’s in town, and she loved it.

Remember, Dallas was big back then, and if a Ball Of The World was good enough for JR...

So my dad secretly went into Casey’s after work and paid money every week towards it. When he landed home with it for my mum for Christmas, the excitement was huge!

What was even more beautiful about this story is my parents always had an open door policy and a warm welcome, and all our neighbours enjoyed the benefits of the O’Callaghan’s drinks cabinet. It was always fully stocked too.

My mum gave it to me when she sold our family home a few years ago, and it takes pride of place in my home now. Even to this day, when I meet any of our old neighbours from Bishopstown, they still ask about the Ball Of The World like it was a member of the family. Many recall the drinks, laughs, and sing-songs that were had around it.

Now, I don’t drink much myself, and many are also off it for the month of Holy Souls. Some people also park the gargle this month as they like to detox before the festive overload.

Alcohol is a big part of Christmas for many, and we Irish have quite the name all over the world for it. So this week, let’s look at the effects of alcohol on our beauty, skin, health and ageing, and let’s also respect and acknowledge the negative side of it.

ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS

SKIN

As a skin expert, I see first hand each day in my clinic the compounding impact of many years that alcohol can have on people’s skin, health, and appearance.

Daily drinkers can have a pale or yellow complexion, the eyes are also more yellow than white, the skin has broken capillaries and thread veins.

Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means when we drink the capillaries and veins dilate and over time burst, giving a high red colouring to the skin, very evident in the cheeks and nose.

HEALTH

Home drinking is the norm these days, replacing meeting in the local pub for many. This can mean many are not measuring their units like a pub would, and are exceeding the recommended units per week.

Drinking alcohol frequently can lead to higher incidences of some cancers, heart disease, liver damage, and can affect the nervous system.

Experts are asking people to go at least four days a week alcohol-free. Years ago, people had alcohol just on Friday and Saturday nights, this is no longer the case for some.

STRESS

There is no denying the fact we are living faster and juggling too much, and many people are stressed, and burned out. Some people are using alcohol to de-stress, but it’s actually water you should be drinking.

Also, alcohol is a depressant so it might not be helping you unwind and forget your woes.

LIVER

Our liver is a vital organ and it works so hard every day to keep us all alive. Alcohol damages the liver and excess alcohol abuse will force it to break down. The body cannot function without the liver.

WEIGHT

Weight loss is very difficult if you are drinking alcohol. Some experts refer to it as liquid cake, as it can be full of calories, carbs and sugar. This is one reason why so many people can gain weight every Christmas.

WATER WORKS

I have always been a huge advocate of plain water. I drink 2.5 litres every day because it is so fundamental to my health. The majority of people are dehydrated at any given time, and it can be expecially important during the menopause.

SUGARY DRINKS

It’s not just alcohol you should be wary of. One thing you will never find in my house is fizzy drinks, I just won’t buy them.

I feel the combination of sugar and caffeine in so many soft drinks is no good for anyone’s health.

When I was a kid, there was one big bottle of Tanora taken out after our Sunday dinner, we would each get a small tumbler glass with our jelly and ice cream for dessert.

We got the same on Christmas Day, and to this day I still have a small glass of Tanora then for sentimental reasons. If fizzy drinks are part of your daily routine, I’d encourage you to try to break that with plain water.

COFFEE

With all the coffee shops and take-outs, does anyone boil their kettle at home anymore?!

My brother likes to tell me when he sees me with one that coffee is the chosen drug of today’s tired society.

On a good day, I have two coffees, on a very busy day I might have four, and it’s mainly because I use it for energy to push through a manic time. I’d drink a coffee more than eat, and I know that’s not good.

Excess caffeine dehydrates the body and over-stimulates us, hence why we often feel the hit from it.

One or two cups a day is the recommended amount per adult, and did you know for every one cup of coffee you drink, you would need to drink three cups of water to rehydrate? Not many are doing that.

Whatever you choose to drink, I hope you drink responsibly and know the effects on your health and body.

Speak to your GP or an expert if you feel you have become dependent on alcohol in your life,

• Emer O’ Callaghan is a multi award winning skin expert and winner of Irish Beauty Therapist of the Year, who works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A Guinot Crown Elite Clinic and Dermalogica Centre of Excellence, 2008-2026, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie - follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
• SPECIAL OFFER: Say goodbye to dry skin in time for Christmas - it is the leading cause of premature ageing and wrinkles. All this month, our Dermalogica Dry and Dehydrated Skin Facial, 90 minutes, is reduced from €155 to €130. Includes full skin reading, complimentary eyebrow shape, samples and treats. To book, call Emerald beauty Clinic 021 4365949. Appointments only, free parking for clients.