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by Answerbag Staff on February 2nd, 2010

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Why does alcohol cause a puffy face?

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Answers. 10 helpful answers below.

  • by Cassie Tweten on February 2nd, 2010

    Answerbag Experts

    Great Answer

    Professionally Researched. (What's this?)

    One night of binge drinking can lead to a bad hangover. Aside from stomach ache, muscle pains and a throbbing head, too much alcohol can also leave you looking run-down. A puffy face is one external sign of excess alcohol intake.

    Alcohol and Urination

    Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes your body to produce more urine. According to MayoClinic.com, urinating more than usual can lead to dehydration.

    Dehydration

    According to Ayushveda.com, when we become dehydrated our bodies try to compensate by retaining water. This dehydration causes puffiness in the face, especially under the eyes.

    Enlarged Blood Vessels

    According to IndiaParenting.com, one reason the face swells when we are dehydrated is that blood vessels become enlarged.

    Inflammatory Response

    According to MayoClinic.com, alcohol triggers the immune system to produce an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response can cause swelling of tissues in the face.

    Sleepiness

    Alcohol causes drowsiness and decreases the quality of sleep, according to MayoClinic.com. This not only leaves you feeling groggy the next day, but also increases your chances of puffy face and under-eye bags.

    Source:

    MayoClinic.com: Hangovers

    Ayushveda: Puffy Face

    India Parenting: Puffy Face

    More Information:

    Effects of Alcohol Dehydration

    Mail Online: Face of a Binge Drinker

    Alcohol Use: Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

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  • by Abbyguy on March 13th, 2010

    Abbyguy

    Because alcohol is lighter than air so it floats up and swells the whole head, like a balloon.
    Medium weight foods make your butt and stomach swell, then heavy foods make your feet swell. Trust me.

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  • by Mister_Bromyde on March 12th, 2010

    Mister_Bromyde

    Because when you're drunk you get punched for being a loudmouth.

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  • by Nina_100 on May 10th, 2010

    Nina_100

    I drank last night and woke up with a puffy face just to be stupid I finished up the bottle before going off to school honestly its soooo bad for you but so addicting once you first taste it..you're hooked It dries your body out

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  • by hallagan on March 15th, 2010

    hallagan

    I'm drinking right now and started before I saw this question hold on let me go to the mirror. No I'm sorry I don't see it.

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  • by ur.silverfox on March 15th, 2010

    ur.silverfox

    fluid in the tissues through out the body are not able to be moved through the lymph nodes as they should be after alcohol is introduced to the system the result can be fluid build up in the underlying tissues resulting in puffy face hands stomach or ankles

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  • by call_me_ishmael on March 14th, 2010

    call_me_ishmael

    in all fairness, its poision, don't get me wrong I love the stuff but its not good for you..

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  • by leave_me_alone on March 13th, 2010

    leave_me_alone

    Someone taking Steroids (Either Illegal or with a prescription to recover from an illness can cause it too)

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  • by CosmicWunderkind on March 12th, 2010

    CosmicWunderkind

    I guess because alcohol first constricts the blood vessels from lack of oxygen and
    blood poisoning than when it tries to bounce back it's not the same again unless you give it time to recover like stop drinking.

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  • by Chigg on March 15th, 2010

    Chigg

    It dehydrates you at the same time as overloading your liver and kidneys so that they can't process the liquid fast enough. It also thins the blood and encourages the tiny capillaries to burst, giving that 'red nose and full lips' look as well as water puffiness.

    For the same reason that you wake up in the night with a full bladder after a drinking session, for the same reason that your sweat smells like alcohol, you can also wake up in the morning 'carrying' a lot of the water that the alcohol has encouraged out of your cells but which has not been sweated out or passed as urine. It will remain there until your organs are functioning properly again and have a good chance to catch up.

    People with heart trouble often carry that water just in the left ankle because the heart isn't strong enough to pump the liquid 'uphill', but both people with untreated heart disease and people with alcohol overload will often wake up with a puffy, water filled face.

    Its just that the water is more noticeable in your eyelids, cheeks and lips than it would be on your calves, and it has the chance to collect there because you've been lying down all night. If you look, you'll notice that when that happens your hands also feel puffier and your fingers a bit chubbier because the water from cell breakdown is everywhere.

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