How to Spot an Alcoholic Face

Last Updated:

November 11th, 2025

Almost one-third of drinkers in the UK are consuming alcohol at levels that are harmful to their health. It is little wonder, then, that so many people are asking questions about what alcohol does to our physical appearance.

Alcohol’s damage will manifest across the entire body, including on a person’s face. Unlike other areas, it’s not as easy to hide facial changes that develop over time. By understanding what these facial signs of alcoholism are signalling, we hope to give support to people who need timely help.

What does the term “alcoholic face” actually mean?

The term “alcoholic face” itself can be quite derogatory, so healthcare professionals prefer not to use it. That being said, it does have some basis, as people who drink excessively tend to develop specific facial signs over time.

The fact that these signs are shared among many people with an alcohol disorder probably led us to coin the colloquial term in the first place. It is natural for us to develop generalised phrases for those we try to help, though we should remember to use softer terms with friends and loved ones.

Excessive drinking places enormous stress on your body’s ability to function normally, to process and regulate the nutrients that are essential for survival. It is essential, then, to never dismiss these facial signs as only cosmetic, as this can underplay the danger a person may be in.

What are the facial signs of alcohol misuse?

Heavy drinking has been found to negatively affect almost every organ in the human body, and the skin, as our largest organ, is one of the first places to show it. Signs that manifest externally, especially in the face, can be indicators of damage that needs to be addressed before the problem worsens. These include:

Yellowish or grey skin tone

Developing a dull, yellow or greyish hue in the face is an indicator that the liver is struggling to filter toxins out of the bloodstream. When cells inside your liver are damaged, a pigment called bilirubin builds up, which is formed from the breakdown of old red blood cells. We find it in bile, which is why vomit is a yellowish colour. A yellowing skin tone is known medically as jaundice, and is often a symptom of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). Changes in colour can be found in any part of your skin or in the whites of a person’s eyes. Jaundice linked to ARLD needs urgent medical help before the liver is further damaged.

Dark circles and tired eyes

While people can develop dark under-eye circles for many reasons, it can also be a symptom of long-term alcoholism. It could firstly be linked to the way alcohol majorly disrupts sleep quality, especially if unaddressed for a long time. Additionally, it can be a sign that the body is lacking essential nutrients like vitamin B and iron. Under-eye circles can have either a concave or convex shape and, like jaundice, may also be tied to worsening liver function.

Nose swelling (alcoholic rhinophyma)

For some people, small blood vessels in the face can become permanently enlarged. This leads to thickened skin and swelling around the nose, a condition known as rhinophyma. It is sometimes given the colloquial and derogatory names ‘whisky nose’ or ‘rum blossom,’ which can carry stigma. Rhinophyma appears as the nose becomes enlarged and bulbous, with a red or purplish colouration. The condition may persist over time, or come and go in waves. While there is some debate as to whether alcohol causes rhinophyma, it is believed to worsen its symptoms.

Redness and facial flushing

Sometimes linked with alcoholic rhinophyma, patches near the nose and cheeks can take on a reddish appearance, with some people experiencing chronic inflammation. Many people have facial flushing after excessive alcohol consumption; one cause for this is the buildup of acetaldehyde in your gut. Some people might experience it only when alcohol is in the system, while others may have a reddish tint even when they haven’t been drinking.

More specifically, for people from certain parts of Asia, this happens almost instantly, a response known as the alcohol flush reaction. Some research shows that more than half a billion people of East Asian descent experience it, as their bodies produce acetaldehyde faster than they can break it down.

“Spider veins” from broken capillaries

Alcohol’s detrimental effects can be felt in some of the most minute vessels and capillaries, including those that run through the face. Drinking excessively over time can cause them to burst, resulting in a web-like pattern of purple or bluish lines, like small spider legs. These visible veins might fade slightly with prolonged sobriety, but in some cases, only professional treatment can remove them.

The causes of facial signs from alcoholism

Many of the visible signs associated with long-term drinking stem from the way alcohol disrupts key biological processes, including:

Nutritional deficiencies: Alcohol limits the absorption of vital nutrients like vitamins A, C and zinc, which are essential for collagen production and skin repair. This leads to dullness and faster ageing.
Liver strain: When the liver struggles to filter toxins such as bilirubin, they begin to build up in the blood, often showing as a yellowish tint in the skin and eyes.
Extended dehydration: As a diuretic, alcohol drains the body of water, leaving the skin dry, sunken and more prone to fine lines, which is one of the clearest indicators of prolonged misuse.
Worsening sleep hygiene: While alcohol may increase the onset of drowsiness, it disrupts deep sleep cycles, leaving the skin dull and tired-looking from poor sleep quality.

Can facial symptoms of alcoholism be reversed?

The good news is that many of the visible effects of alcohol on the face can improve. and in some cases, fully reverse, once drinking stops. The body is remarkably resilient when we are kinder to it.

In the first few weeks of sobriety, you will notice improvements like clearer skin, reduced puffiness and better sleep. Over time, the skin’s natural elasticity returns as hydration levels and nutrient absorption are restored.

However, long-term damage like broken capillaries or chronic inflammation may take longer to fade and, in some cases, require medical or dermatological treatment. The key factor is sustained recovery, as when alcohol use ends, the body can finally focus on repair rather than constantly defending itself.

By prioritising sobriety, hydration, balanced nutrition and ongoing support, many people find that their health and appearance begin to reflect the vitality of life in recovery.

Where can I get help for alcohol addiction?

If you’ve noticed facial changes that worry you, either in yourself or a loved one, remember that it is dangerous to dismiss them as purely cosmetic. They’re signs from your body that something deeper needs taking care of.

At Oasis Bradford, we specialise in medical detox and therapy programmes to address both the physical and psychological aspects of alcohol addiction. Our teams work for you and with you to repair the body, rebuild confidence and restore the health you deserve.

Reach out to us today and take the first step towards recovery. You will quickly find that every day without alcohol is a step closer to looking, and feeling, like your best self, once again.

(Click here to see works cited)

“Almost a Third of Drinkers in the UK Are Drinking at Increasing or High Risk Levels.” Drinkaware, drinkaware.co.uk/news/almost-a-third-of-drinkers-in-the-uk-are-drinking-at-increasing-or-high-risk-levels
“Alcohol and You: An Interactive Body (Text).” Alcohol and You: An Interactive Body (Text) | College Drinking, Changing the Culture, www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/special-features/interactive-body/alcohol-and-you-interactive-body-text
NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice
Care, Leightons Opticians & Hearing. “Puffy Eyes.” Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care, 2 Sept. 2024, www.leightons.co.uk/blog/eye-care/puffy-eyes.
Liu A, Al-Lami A, Kapoor K. Rhinophyma: when Red Nose Day is no laughing matter. Br J Gen Pract. 2019 Mar;69(680):137. doi: 10.3399/bjgp19X701585. PMID: 30819745; PMCID: PMC6400629.
Ryan, Rob. “What Is Acetaldehyde & How Is It Linked to Alcohol?” ZBiotics, ZBiotics, 6 Mar. 2025, zbiotics.com/blogs/journal/what-is-acetaldehyde-and-its-link-to-alcohol.
Isabel Moh, University of Nevada, et al. “The Alcohol Flush Response.” Graphic Medicine Review, Lamar Soutter Library, UMass Chan Medical School, 24 Feb. 2024, publishing.escholarship.umassmed.edu/gmr/article/id/807/.