Furthermore, if alcohol bruises are a result of liver damage, you likely have alcoholic liver disease, which causes severe dysfunction in the liver. Alcohol is known to be toxic to the liver, and a majority of people who regularly consume 4 or more drinks per day will develop a fatty liver. Prolonged heavy drinking can also increase a person’s risk of more serious conditions, such as skin cancer. It can also cause skin changes resulting from alcoholic liver disease. Ever wake up with a red or puffy face after a night of drinking? In fact, an “alcoholic face” encompasses a range of physical changes — telltale signs of chronic alcohol consumption.

Check with your doctor before using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin or ibuprofen, because these can make bleeding and bruising worse. Most bruises don’t need treatment because they heal on their own. This usually takes about 2 weeks, but many will heal sooner than that. Talk to your doctor if you have a bruise that lasts longer than 2 weeks. If you have a bruise on your breast and don’t know how you got it or have other symptoms, go talk to your doctor.

Can alcohol cause pain in your feet?

There are many facial signs of alcoholism, but one of the most common signs is redness in your face. On average, 1 in 3 people with the most advanced stage of liver disease and cirrhosis are still alive after 2 years. When the body can compensate and manage cirrhosis, the typical lifespan is 6–12 years. Those with less severe diseases will survive longer if they abstain from alcohol.

1. Someone with decompensated cirrhosis may develop ascites (or fluid in the abdomen), gastrointestinal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy, in which the brain is affected.
2. A person may also develop a tolerance for alcohol, meaning that they need larger and larger amounts to obtain the desired effects.
3. Your healthcare provider may also test you for individual nutrient deficiencies.

After two to three weeks of abstaining from alcohol, fatty deposits disappear and liver biopsies appear normal. Alcoholic cirrhosis is a progression of ALD in which scarring in the liver makes it difficult for that organ to function properly. Symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, muscle cramps, easy bruising, and jaundice. According to the National Library of Medicine, a bruise is a mark under the skin, usually painful and swollen, that occurs because of blood trapped beneath the skin’s surface. When a person gets a bruise, some sort of injury crushes blood vessels, but the skin does not break and cause external bleeding. What all of this means is that people who live with an alcohol use disorder are likely to consume large quantities of alcohol.

Alcohol’s Effects on the Body

Brain changes from repeated alcohol misuse lead to compulsive drinking and make it difficult to stop without treatment. Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis, which is the inflammation of your liver. One common sign of alcoholic hepatitis is jaundice, where the skin and whites of your eyes look yellowish. Other alcohol-related liver diseases resulting from consistent liver inflammation, like alcoholic jaundice (aka alcoholic hepatitis), are also common with chronic drinking. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, drinking alcohol can increase a person’s risk of developing it. Not all alcoholics will experience “alcoholic face” symptoms such as flushing, discoloration, and facial swelling.

This increased blood flow means more blood might escape the vessel if it ruptures. Trent Carter, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, is a seasoned nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in addiction medicine.

How To Spot an “Alcoholic Face”

A person may also develop a tolerance for alcohol, meaning that they need larger and larger amounts to obtain the desired effects. One of the diagnostic criteria that points toward an alcohol use disorder is continuing to drink, even in the face of consequences. These consequences can include relationship problems, difficulty fulfilling duties at work or home, or a worsening of health problems. If a person continues to drink despite health-related problems, bruises after drinking may be a consequence that arises from alcohol misuse. Alcohol-related neuropathy is a condition caused by consuming large amounts of alcohol over a long period. The toxic effects of alcohol may damage your peripheral nerves, which play a role in movement and sensation.

Hepatitis is a general term for swelling and inflammation of the liver from any cause. The early signs of alcoholic liver disease are vague and affect a range of systems in the body. Medication can help reduce some of the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy.

Cirrhosis is when normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which causes the liver to lose its ability to function well. Either way, fluctuations in a person’s appetite, as a result of alcohol consumption, can lead to changes in their weight. Typically, only people who can show at least 6 months of abstinence from alcohol before the procedure will be suitable candidates for a transplant.

As liver functioning maverick house declines from chronic alcohol misuse, a person is likely to bleed and bruise easily. An alcohol use disorder is a legitimate medical condition that causes lasting changes in the brain. Once a person develops an alcohol use disorder, they will continue to drink, even in the face of serious consequences, such as health problems caused by alcohol.