Excessive alcohol use has many negative effects on an alcoholic, including physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. Probably the most obvious signs of an alcoholic are changes on the face that often occur after prolonged alcohol misuse. If you look at alcoholics’ faces before and after they engage in heavy drinking, you will likely find obvious differences.
In this article, Avenues Recovery expounds on the different alcoholic face changes that may indicate that someone is addicted to alcohol. Although you may gain clues on how to spot an alcoholic face, it’s important to note that although the symptoms may be an indication that a person is an alcoholic, it is in no way definitive. Therefore, it’s advisable to avoid making accusations or confronting anyone before you have confirmed in a gentle way that the person is actually using alcohol.
Key Takeaways: How to Spot an Alcoholic Face
- There are several characteristics of an alcoholic face, including puffiness, redness, spider veins, under-eye shadows, jaundice, and wrinkles.
- Alcoholic face changes may differ between males and females and from person to person.
- Having one or more of these indicators is not absolute proof that a person is drinking, so caution is needed not to confront a loved one based on facial markers.
- If you suspect your loved one is addicted to alcohol, it’s best to reach out to professional help to know how to best approach and support them.
6 Signs to Spot an Alcoholic Face
What do alcoholics look like? The face of an alcoholic, sometimes referred to as a “booze face”, has several distinct features. Alcoholic face changes occur as a result of alcohol interfering with body functions, especially liver function, hydration, and blood vessels. Below are some of the physical signs of an alcoholic face, accompanied by corresponding pictures of alcoholic faces
Puffy Face
The reason alcoholics find their face puffy after drinking alcohol is that alcohol causes water retention (the inability of the body to rid itself of water), which causes alcoholic face swelling. A heavy drinker will often have a puffy, bloated face.
Red Face
An alcoholic red face is the result of widened blood vessels in the face due to excessive alcohol consumption. Over time, the damage can become permanent, meaning the drinker's face may always have a flushed appearance.
Spider Veins
Spider veins refer to veins on the face that are clearly visible, usually near the nose and cheeks. This is because alcohol widens the blood vessels, sometimes breaking them entirely, making them starkly visible on the face of an alcoholic.
Dark Circles Under the Eyes
Dark circles under the eyes may occur due to unhealthy sleeping patterns or due to dehydration of the skin from alcoholism.
Jaundice or Pale Skin
Excessive alcohol consumption harms the liver, causing a yellowing of the skin known as jaundice. This can also affect the eyes, leaving them yellowish. In the short term, alcoholics may have bloodshot eyes due to irritation of the blood vessels in the eyes after drinking.
Wrinkles
Younger people may look older than they are due to wrinkles, sagging skin, and aging lines that change the appearance of the face.
Male vs. Female Alcoholic Face
Long-term alcohol use can affect men's and women's faces differently: men more often develop a flushed or reddened complexion and puffiness from broken capillaries, while women may notice more pronounced fine lines, dullness, and sagging due to alcohol's dehydrating and collagen-depleting effects. These changes vary by individual, but their common denominator is that alcohol is negatively impacting their health and appearance.
Is an Alcoholic Face Enough to Prove Alcoholism?
Although observing the signs of an alcoholic face may seem to be sufficient proof that the person has alcohol use disorder, this is not necessarily the case. You can look out for other signs of changes in behavior, overall appearance, and mental capacity to determine whether or not a loved one may be struggling with alcoholism. Here are some other signs of alcoholism to look out for, besides the drinker's face.
- 1. Behavioral Changes - Mood swings, neglect of physical appearance, loss of interest
- 2. Psychological changes - Stress, anxiety, and depression
- 3. Physical changes - Weight gain or loss, withdrawal symptoms
Even if you identify many of these signs, it is recommended that you reach out to a professional mental health counselor to help you determine whether or not your loved one has alcoholism and what you can do about it.
How to Help an Alcoholic
If you suspect your loved one may have alcohol use disorder, you’ll know how hard it is to best support an alcoholic family member. Many people feel inclined to protect the person with an addiction, helping them lie, covering up for their shortcomings, and picking up the pieces of their disorganized lives. This would include giving excuses for why the alcoholic did not show up to a family event or a co-worker filling in for missed work.
While this may seem noble, these are all harmful enabling behaviors. They allow the addict to continue indulging in their addiction instead of holding them accountable and forcing them to take responsibility for their excessive drinking. In other words, helping an alcoholic would not include allowing them to deny their drinking issues to themselves and others.
Help Yourself, Help Your Loved One
If your loved one may be an alcoholic, it would be wise to educate yourself on alcoholism. Many resources offer vital knowledge on what motivates alcoholism, how an addict has lost control over their ability to control their alcohol drinking, and how to best support an alcoholic as a loved one.
It is also worthwhile reaching out to a mental health professional, addiction specialist, or reputable rehab facility for guidance and information so that you can immediately point the person with a substance use disorder in the right direction if they reach out to you for assistance.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Now that you know how to spot an alcoholic face, know that support is just a step away! At Avenues Recovery, we have helped thousands of individuals undergo medical alcohol detox and recovery treatment, finding their way to long-term sobriety.
Our caring and dedicated staff is committed to delivering the highest level of care and personalized treatment plans to ensure optimal success. If you are serious about addiction recovery, reach out to Avenues Recovery today to start your journey! We will support you every step of the way towards the sober future you deserve.
How to Spot an Alcoholic Face: FAQs
What do alcoholics look like?
There's no single "look" of an alcoholic, but an alcoholic's face changes often include redness or flushing, puffiness or swelling (especially around the eyes), premature wrinkles, and a dull or uneven skin tone. All of these factors are a manifestation of alcohol's effects on hydration, blood vessels, and skin over time.
How to get rid of drinkers face?
The most effective step to getting rid of an alcoholic face is cutting back or quitting alcohol. Many alcohol-related skin changes can improve once drinking stops or is significantly reduced. Supportive habits such as hydration, a nutrient-rich diet, and skincare can also help, but noticeable improvement can take weeks to months, depending on how long-term the use was.
What are the early signs of alcoholic eyes?
Early signs of alcoholic eyes often include bloodshot eyes, puffiness or dark circles, and a yellowish tint to the whites of the eyes (jaundice) if liver function is affected. Persistent or worsening symptoms, especially yellowing, warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider, since they can signal liver stress.
Will my face slim if I stop drinking alcohol?
Yes, your face is likely to slim down if you stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol contributes to facial puffiness and bloating through dehydration, inflammation, and its high-calorie content, so cutting it out often reduces that swelling and can make facial features appear slimmer over time.