When we think about beauty, it’s easy to think about makeup, Instagram filters, 10-step skincare routines, as well as those rather annoying glossy hair adverts.
In today’s image-obsessed world, it’s easy to forget that beauty is about what’s inside. True beauty isn’t about how clear our skin is, how long or glossy our hair is, or even how plump our lips look.
True beauty is about how happy and confident we feel in our bodies, how we cherish those around us and how fulfilled we feel living our lives.However, when a lot of people suffer from addiction issues, specifically to highly addictive substances such as cocaine, ketamine, heroin and alcohol, our confidence and our happiness are stolen from us.
Likewise, when people suffer from addiction issues, their looks and even their hygiene are often the last thing on their minds.When an individual recovers from an addiction, it will transform not only how they feel, but how they look, too.
When your body is rid of the addictive substances that have been holding you back, you’ll quickly notice clearer skin, shinier hair and more confidence than you’ve previously had.
Recovering from an addiction shows true courage, strength and beauty. Attending drug and private inpatient alcohol rehab will free you from the cycle that you’ve been stuck in and allow your true beauty and confidence to shine through.
The Impact Addiction has on Your Appearance
When someone becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, their appearance doesn’t change immediately and suddenly.
The changes to an individual’s appearance can creep up slowly, so much so that you might not notice until you compare photos from a few years back. Below are just some of the ways addiction has an impact on your appearance.
1. Skin issues
Believe it or not, drugs and alcohol have a direct impact on the overall condition of your skin. Drugs and alcohol dehydrate the skin, leaving it dull, flaky and prone to breakouts including both cystic acne and blackheads.
In addition to this, certain substances such as alcohol can also cause blood vessel damage, which means increased redness and blotchiness, making you more prone to conditions such as rosacea.
2. Sudden changes to your weight
Likewise, many substances such as alcohol, heroin and cocaine have an impact on appetite and metabolism, causing dramatic shifts in weight. This could mean that they gain weight or lose weight suddenly.
3. Hair loss and hair thinning
In addition to skin issues, addiction to certain substances are also now directly linked to hair loss and hair thinning. This is due to nutritional deficiencies most sufferers experience due to a general poor diet, neglect and stress whilst they are addicted.
This neglect causes stress on hair follicles, causing them to become weak and brittle, before they eventually fall out leaving you with thinner hair and hair that lacks shine and health.
4. Poor eye health
Not many people consider how addiction impacts the health of your eyes. However, studies have shown that those who suffer from addiction issues suffer from poor eye health, including bloodshot eyes, sunken eyes and eyes which are puffy and have dark circles. Overall, your eyes look tired, and this has a huge impact on your overall health and confidence.
What happens during a detox?
The word detox is often used throughout the beauty industry these days as a cleanse, whether that be giving your skin a break from wearing make-up, or going on a juice detox or cleans.
However, when we talk about addiction and recovery, a detox is when someone suffering from an addiction issue withdraws from taking the addictive substance so that their body can rid itself of the substances and chemicals that are keeping them addicted to the substance.
This is often the most challenging part of the recovery process and does result in some very unpleasant side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
During the detox phase of your recovery, your skin will go through a bit of a rollercoaster.
Usually, people withdrawing from addictive substances will experience breakouts on their face, as well as excess oil, or dryness. It is important to understand that this is a normal part of the process, and you should not panic.
Your detox will likely last 7 - 10 days, depending on the severity of your addiction issues.
Once your body is no longer reliant and dependent on the substance, your skin will slowly start to heal and you will notice more colour in your cheeks, smoother skin and an overall more radiant complexion.
Your Skin Once You’ve Recovered
Once you have successfully withdrawn and detoxed from the addictive substance, your skin will notice a marked improvement.
This is because your skin’s collagen is now able to repair. Alcohol and certain drugs such as cocaine and heroin break down the collagen in your skin.
Collagen is the protein that keeps skin firm and plump and prevents it from sagging.
Once these addictive substances are removed, your body can begin producing collagen once again, which will go a long way when it comes to softening lines and improving your skin’s overall elasticity.
You will now notice a more even skin tone, due to your body ridding itself of any toxins, as well as improved circulation, reducing any redness or discolouration. You will also notice an overall clearer complexation, with less acne flare ups.
It is important to understand that withdrawing from an addictive substance will not automatically make you look 10 years younger.
Whilst recovering from drugs or alcohol, it is important to maintain a simple and yet effective skin care routine, including a cleanse, tone and moisturising routine.
Remember, you should always wear SPF during the day. Whilst in recovery, your skin will need to heal and wearing SPF on a daily basis, even when it is not sunny, will ensure your skin heals and recovers in a safe way.
Your Weight Once You’ve Recovered
Once you have recovered from your addiction issues, you will notice that your weight starts to fluctuate less and becomes more stable. You will notice an increased appetite and should try your best to eat a balanced diet, three times a day.
You should avoid weighing yourself on a regular basis, although doctors and other medical professionals might ask you to weigh yourself as part of your check ins. You should also try to avoid going on any special diets during this time and should be kind to yourself when it comes to eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis.
Your Hair Once You’ve Recovered
Hair often tells the story of what’s going on inside your body. This is particularly the case when someone is suffering from addiction. In recovery, as the body heals itself, hair health improves dramatically. For a lot of people, this means longer, healthier and shinier hair which can work wonders when it comes to increasing confidence.
When recovering from an addiction, it is important to recover alongside a balanced diet and at least 2 litres of water a day, to ensure that your damaged hair follicles get the nutrients they need. Over time, your hair will grow back stronger and shinier than ever before.
Again, it is important to manage your expectations here. Your hair won’t grow as long as Rapunzel’s, but it will start to feel thicker and longer over time.
Beauty Tips for Someone Currently in Recovery from Addiction
If you are recovering from a drug and alcohol addiction, then you are already on your way to becoming a happier, healthier and more confident version of yourself. However, there are a number of things listed below that you can do if you want to feel an extra boost of confidence during your recovery.
Drink at least 2 litres of water a day. You can increase your chances of doing this by keeping a water bottle with you at all times. Herbal teas are also a lovely way to hydrate.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They’re packed with antioxidants that support skin repair and will have a huge impact on your mood, too.
Always wear SPF, even when it’s raining or simply cloudy. UV can damage your skin, and your skin is particularly sensitive during recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.
Exercise on a regular basis. This will have a significant impact on your overall health and image and will increase confidence and boost your mood at the same time.
Try to get 8 hours of sleep every day. Sleep is when your body repairs itself, which is incredibly important to anyone recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
To Conclude
Overcoming addiction to drugs or alcohol is never easy. Addiction has a huge impact on your health, your happiness and the confidence that you have in your own skin. Addiction impacts your health, your skin, the light in your eyes and plays havoc with the scales.
It is important to remember that during your recovery, you will slowly start to notice an improved difference in your overall appearance, although these changes will not be immediate and will take some time before you or anyone else starts to notice them.
If you are currently struggling with your self-image, then it is important to remember that beauty is not about perfection; it’s about health, vitality, self-love and the relationships you have with those who stick by you through thick and thin.
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