Liver damage due to alcohol

The most common cause of liver damage and the resulting liver cirrhosis is chronic alcohol abuse. There is a close connection between the amount of alcohol consumed and the occurrence of cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol is a cell toxin that is broken down in the liver. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to changes in the liver cells, the tissue becomes fatty and finally becomes cirrhotic.

Liver skin signs in the face

Typical skin changes also occur on the face in cases of liver damage or cirrhosis. The liver damage causes a vitamin deficiency and as a result the papillae of the tongue atrophy. This means that the small elevations on the back of the tongue gradually disappear and the mucous membrane of the tongue takes on a shiny, lacquer-like appearance and is severely reddened.

These changes can also lead to paresthesia on the surface of the tongue. This symptom is called varnished tongue and often occurs together with varnished lips, i.e. conspicuously shiny and very red lips. The liver cells are not only responsible for the vital detoxification of harmful substances in the body.

Important proteins are also produced in these liver cells, which ensure, for example, that the blood is not too thin and that the person does not bleed to death. If these important proteins, the “clotting factors”, are missing in the event of liver damage, bleeding can occur anywhere in the body. This is clearly illustrated, for example, by the “spider naevi“, the spider-legged superficial bleedings in the smallest veins that are permanently visible on the skin.

These occur mainly on the face and neck. The punctiform vascular nodules are only a few centimeters in size and can be pushed away. Spider neavi are among the signs of liver skin and should definitely be clarified.

However, there are also a number of harmless explanations for the appearance of Spider naevi, such as puberty or pregnancy. Spider naevi, i.e. the small, star-shaped heap vessels, may also develop in pregnant women. This is due to the increased pressure in the abdominal cavity during pregnancy, which in turn causes high pressure in the vascular system and is therefore also responsible for the formation of varicose veins.

At the end of pregnancy, the vascular pressure decreases again and the spider naevi disappears. Spider naevi during pregnancy are therefore harmless and do not require further treatment. Normally, the skin lesions fade by themselves after pregnancy. If this does not happen, laser therapy can be considered. This involves removing the spider naevi in several sessions with a laser beam.