Hangovers. They're like the person you hooked-up with that gave you instant regret. Hangovers not only wreak havoc on your body, but on your skin, too (we're talking to you, ladies.) 
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Frequent alcohol-ing is not only dehydrating, but can suck vital vitamins and nutrients right out of it. You could also suffer from brittle hair, dark circles, bloodshot eyes, and even blindness. What!?!?

"Over time, drinking heavily can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement-- is linked to alcohol," said Dr. Gretchen Frieling, a Boston-area board certified dermatopathologist. "Since alcohol increases your blood flow, it often causes blood vessels in your face to dilate (sometimes permanently) and often burst, leaving behind broken capillaries and red spots that are difficult to get rid of."
Well, that sucks.

Stay hydrated: Aside from giving up booze altogether, Dr. Frieling says it is possible to minimize the unwanted effects of alcohol by constantly staying hydrated. “That means drinking a full glass of water for every cocktail you have. Drink even more water before you go to bed to flush the alcohol out of your system so you wake up less dehydrated, puffy and flushed,” she advises.

Take care of your skin before bed: Taking care of your skin before hitting the sack is also crucial. Dr. Frieling advises fully washing your face and then applying a moisturizer, like a hydrating serum before getting into bed. “Sleeping with dirty skin makes it prone to clogged pores and acne.”

Prop pillows and use tea: One of the best ways to minimize the eye and face puffiness is to sleep on two pillows, slightly propped up. In the morning, rubbing ice cubes all over your face helps, too.

Cover up what you can’t cure: To camouflage the redness in the face, use a green-tinted primer before applying makeup, which should help neutralize any redness. If you must use foundation, look for a lightweight, moisturizing formula.  Avoid powders, as they are often more drying.

Consider lasers: When at-home remedies aren’t making much of a difference. There are pricier measures you can take to minimize the effects of alcohol. “Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and spider veins on the face. It’s important to see someone who is well trained to administer the laser treatment,” suggests Dr. Frieling.

Choose your booze wisely: If you are going to consume alcohol know that different alcohols have different effects on the skin, but as a general rule, the clearer, the better. Vodka, gin, and tequila leave your system quicker.

Crack Wise-dom: Drink half a box of wine, and half a box of water. Gets bangs. Invent real-life soft focus. Wear a wig.
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We got this.

Ah,  yes. The Holidays are upon us. Full of fun and family and friends and feasting, and... stress. The "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" could become "The Most Murderous Time of the Year" if we don't keep ourselves in check. 

Dr. Alok Trivedi is a psychological performance coach and founder of the Aligned Performance Institute. He also wrote the book, Chasing Success. So, he must know stuff. He has eight tips for surviving the holidays. Oh, and so do we...

It’s ok to be Scrooge: If you just can’t get into the spirit of the season, don’t beat yourself up. The reality is that not everybody gets all excited over the holidays. Society makes you feel bad if you’re not into it, but it’s perfectly okay if you’re not. Stop judging yourself and don’t let other people get you down.

Crack Wise-dom: Yes! Be on the lookout for our "Eff Off" holiday cards.

Make time for solitude: The holidays bring more demands for our time. It’s parties, outings, travel, religious services, family get-togethers, people staying in our homes and more. Some people love this but others not so much. It’s important to carve out time to be by yourself. Even as little as 30 minutes per day can have tremendous benefits.

Crack Wise-dom: Perfect. Start the New Year's resolution early of running off into the woods forever. Or, until the new season of Stranger Things  comes out on Netflix.

Avoid emotional eating: This time of year, food is in abundance. Many of us tend to eat to handle the emotional chaos instead of addressing it. This only adds pounds and makes you feel even worse. If something is bothering you, don’t turn to food. Address it no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Crack Wise-dom: Uhm, the one thing we're good at is "eating our feelings." Don't be the aforementioned Scrooge and take that from us, bitch! That escalated...

Communicate with family & friends: Although the holidays are a stressful time, it’s people’s inability to communicate and make assumptions that gets them into trouble. It’s important to be on the same page as your family and friends otherwise there’s going to be resentment and chaos. Make an extra effort to communicate better and listen to others.

Crack Wise-dom: Only if copious amounts of alcohol are involved. At. Every. Course.

Know your limits: Life is challenging enough without having to worry about the holidays. Be realistic in terms of what you can and can’t handle. It’s nice to want to make yourself available to everything and everyone, but it’s also unrealistic and going to take a toll on your mental and physical health. Keep a calendar and stick to it. Learn to prioritize things and remember, there’s nothing wrong with saying ‘no.’

Crack Wise-dom: Five minutes on. Five minutes off. Like, we'll sit at the table for five minutes and endure the brow-beating and questions, then five minutes away from the table watching football. Or 9-1-1 is gonna be called.

Make a financial plan: Money is one of the biggest stressors of the holiday season. If you have to buy gifts, start putting money aside for this now so you’re not dipping into your checking or savings account, or worse, going into debt. Remember, it’s perfectly acceptable to cut-down on gift-giving and just give something small to those closest to you. 

Crack Wise-dom: “Borrowing” your credit card. No budget!

Have more sex: Yes, seriously! Sex is the most natural high in the world that releases feel-good chemicals in the brain. It can help boost your mood; reduce stress, worry and anxiety; help you stay connected with your partner; and it’s good exercise.

Crack Wise-dom: But not with the "forever friend zone friend" that's part of your Friendsgiving crew. Or that dude you call “uncle” that really isn’t your uncle….

Talk about your feelings: Not everyone experiences the joy of the season. Many of us are thinking about past holidays with loved ones who are no longer with us. Others are consumed by challenges going on in their lives right now. You may experience an array of thoughts and feelings and that’s perfectly normal. If you’re having trouble coping, don’t hold it in. Talk to a close friend, family member or mental health professional.

Crack Wise-dom: "George is getting angry!"
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Personally, we'd take our advice. Way more real...

We could be all-snarky with this stat: 88% of U.S. adults admit to losing sleep while watching TV or a streaming service. Well, duh. How can you really sleep with your eyes open?

But we know what the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is talking about. Sleep is a priority, second only to family. But we're not sleeping.

"It's encouraging that Americans rank sleep as one of their highest priorities, but choosing to binge on entertainment at night instead of sleeping has serious ramifications," said AASM President Dr. Kelly A. Carden. "Sleep is essential to health, well-being and safety, and chronic insufficient sleep can lead to increased risk of health problems, mood disorders, and motor vehicle accidents."

Other things clock-blocking our sleep? Video games, reading, and watching sports.

What, no makin' the lovin'? Or does that not take up a lot of time?

P.S. Click HERE for a nifty bedtime calculator.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Americans spend nearly $200 billion a year on obesity-related health costs. Wallethub did what it does best: ask a bunch of questions and crunch the numbers. They ain't pretty. Twenty-nine key metrics including: share of overweight/obese population, sugary-beverage consumption among adolescents, and more were considered.
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The fattest state? Mississippi. The not-fattest? Utah. And what's eye-opening is this: 14-18 years is the reduction of life expectancy in the average person with Type 1 diabetes.

See where your state ranks.

P.S. We know this is horrible, but this story is making us want to devour a Popeye's Spicy Chicken Sandwich and a plate of nachos...