How Addictions Affect Beauty

Some addictions can warp your appearance over time

There are plenty of addictions that can alter your appearance over time. While we know that being hooked on crystal meth is going to result in at least a little damage to the facial area; some lesser addictions can have just as much impact on your face, skin, and beauty.

Consider the case of chocolate. Caffeine is considered to be a mild substance, barely classified as addictive simply because the symptoms of addiction aren't destructive. Coffee, chocolate, and other caffeine-inclusive snacks, are all capable of adding grease to the skin, giving you acne, and potentially leaving you scarred… but we don't think about that while we are tucking into that donut… do we?

We listed a few other addictions known to drastically impact your good looks. Some are considered mild; others are more serious - but all will alter your looks indefinitely if you don't quit while you are ahead.

Addictions that Alter Your Appearance

Some of the addictions known to alter your appearance in the most noticeable ways, include the following.

1 - Nicotine

Smoking dulls the shine on your hair, makes you smell bad, and coats everything in your life in a greasy yellow layer. Your skin will grey, your eyes will become hollow, and your appetite will decrease. Yes, you will lose weight, no, it won't be a good thing. Smokers substitute meals for nicotine and live off cigarettes and coffee. The lack of nutrients quickly becomes evident in the bags under their eyes.

There are medical reasons for the difference in smoker's and non-smoker's appearances. WebMD explain it well with a study into a set of twins. One smoked for fourteen years, the other never smoked. The difference in their looks is astounding.

2 - Heroin

Arguably, heroin's affect on the appearance is less surprising than others. While you would expect a heroin user to be thinner and have poor dental hygiene due to lack of money/attention, you might not expect them to be covered in scabs. Why is this? Heroin addicts often pick at their skin. This causes bloody welts that stay with you forever.

3 - Alcohol

Those with alcoholism in their diet are prone to sudden weight loss, bloodshot eyes, and rosacea. There is a scientific correlation between drinking red wine and the flushing of the red blood cells in the face. This can lead to the dreaded "alcoholic's nose" if left untreated. Alcoholism can also cause tooth decay due to excess acids in the body, as well as leading to multiple other health problems, each of which come with their own misgivings.

4 - Steroids

Anabolic steroids are occasionally still used by athletes who want to improve their physical prowess. Little do they know that the same hormones found in the steroids, are those which cause acne, baldness, and even erectile dysfunction. If you don't want to buy your muscles at the cost of your complexion, we suggest you give those steroids a miss.

5 - Cocaine

This commonly taken party drug comes with a horrendous side effect. Do too much coke and you lose the septum of your nose. That's the middle part that separates your nostrils. Those that thought this was scare-story myth will be disappointed to learn that cocaine addicts really do wear away this part of their body. They also tend to grind their teeth, much like an ecstasy or MDMA user will, which leads to gum disease and tooth decay.

All Drugs Impact your Appearance

Let's face it… everything from your morning cup of coffee to your evening sleeping tablet can be bad for your physical appearance in one way or another. It doesn't take much to become an addict, even if all you take are prescription medications. Avoid getting hooked by seeking help for a blooming addiction before you allow it to take root. This is the best way to keep yourself youthful, for longer.

Where can I get Help to tackle Addiction?

With all of this in mind, it is only logical that you might want to check some of your habits. If you think you might have a budding addiction, changing those habits now could be the difference between premature aging and other signs on your skin. If you need advice on your rehab clinic options as an NHS patient, help4addiction have a good resource library. Otherwise, check in to a rehab clinic near you to get the intervening help that you need. It is never too early to go to rehab for an addiction… but particularly not if it is taking its toll on your complexion.