How Does Sugar Affect Your Skin?
There are many things that can harm the skin. Excessive sun exposure causes photo aging, premature loss of collagen, and skin cancer. A stressful lifestyle or habits such as smoking and alcohol use are also known to negatively affect the skin.
But did you know that a major contributor to skin problems can be found in what we eat? Food allergens, improper nutrition and not enough water consumption all can negatively affect your skin health, however, one ingredient specifically stands out: SUGAR!
Let’s break down how sugar can negatively affect your skin, and the steps to take to combat this:
SKIN + SUGAR
It is no secret that excessive sugar can negatively affect your weight and overall health. How sugar affects that skin, however, is a less-known topic. Eating too much sugar can speed up natural aging and exacerbate many skin conditions (such as acne and rosacea).
Inflammation: Eating large amounts of simple sugars results in a spike in blood sugar, which in turn leads to inflammation. Inflammation can make the skin appear dry, irritated and aged.
Collagen Damage: Collage is one of the most important proteins that skin needs to appear youthful. Collagen maintains the skin's firmness, thickness, and elasticity. High levels of blood sugar inhibit the formation of collagen resulting in pre-mature thinning and wrinkle formation.
Skin Conditions: Over-consumption of sugar causes rapid fluctuations in hormone levels. These hormone fluctuations contribute to acne breakouts and the worsening of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
SOLUTION: CUT DOWN ON SUGAR
Have you ever heard someone who is on a diet comment how much their skin has improved since starting? Or vice-versa, commenting on how bad their skin looks after a time of indulgence! Fortunately, the negative effects of sugar are reversible, and simply by cutting down on sugar consumption, you can rapidly improve the appearance of your skin.
When it comes to cutting out sugar there are two steps to start with. First is to start becoming aware of what foods you’re eating that contain sugar. Many foods have added sugar “hidden” in them such as sauces, dressings, and dairy products. By reading the nutrition labels you can start to pick and choose more wisely.
The second step is to slowly replace these foods with low-sugar alternatives. It is important not to do this “cold turkey” as sugar is addictive and trying to do it all at once can lead to feeling crummy mentally and physically. More importantly, suddenly stopping can lead to a rebound and even more sugar intake, so be kind to yourself and take it in small steps. The goal is to get to a place where sugar is an every-so-often treat!
Our medical staff at Maui Medspa is experienced with skin care treatments. We're glad to assess your skin from head to toe and make skin care recommendations that will keep it healthy and radiant. Call us right away to make an appointment.
