When it comes to skincare, there are so many different types of products you can use. Am I the only one who spends an enormous amount of money on my skin? With facial mists, serums, moisturizers and what not! It’s funny how I’m pampering my skin and the only thing it’s doing in return is getting spoiled, no pun intended.
Just like they say abs are made in the kitchen, the key to great skin lies 20% in skincare and 80% in lifestyle choices. It doesn’t matter if your skin is already flawless or a playground for acne, no one should ever skip out on proper cleansing, moisturization and wearing SPF daily, even at home. That being said, another thing that matters a lot is your diet. Did you know that sugar can make you age faster? No, we aren’t kidding! So, drop binge-eating for a minute and read on!
How Sugar Affects Your Skin
Our skin is constantly changing itself, shedding new layers and all. But that doesn’t mean it can also reverse skin damage. Yes, our skin heals itself with time but not every damage can be accounted for, especially if it’s due to internal factors. You can put all kinds of things on your face but if you’re not monitoring what you’re putting in your mouth, there’s not much your expensive skincare products can do. Here’s how consuming sugar is making you age faster.
Whether you apply it on or consume it in, sugar is bad for your skin. Not only can the large sugar granules cause micro-tears in your skin, say while scrubbing, but due to their high calories science has found a direct link between consuming sugar and getting wrinkles. Sorry, sweet tooths!
A study titled “Sugar Sag: Glycation and the Role of Diet in Aging Skin” reveals that consuming sugar is really bad for your skin as the sugar molecules attach themselves to other molecules (mainly the proteins that help produce both collagen and elasticin) which changes the function of those molecules. This process is known as glycation and is making you age faster.
As you consume more sugar, this turns into a vicious cycle that keeps on affecting your skin as when the cells cannot repair themselves anymore, the dermis (thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis which forms the true skin) starts looking older. Much older! Other signs of glycation include sudden hormonal changes, acne flare-up, dull (sometimes yellow) skin, and skin inflammation.
But don’t worry ‘coz we know you can control your sugar intake and, in turn, glycation. Here, let us help.
Dietary Changes To Prevent Glycation
To prevent glycation, it’s important to keep a check on your sugar intake. No, we’re not suggesting that you stop consuming sugar altogether. Here’s what you can do instead:
– Eliminating super sugary items such as biscuits, desserts, sodas, and processed foods is a great start. Replace them with fruits (yes, they have sugar too but in much-controlled quantities) and leafy vegetables.
– Cut off junk food items as hidden sugar is definitely the one to blame here.
– Incorporate spices into your food. Oregano, garlic, cinnamon, and clove are good AGE (anti-glycation endproducts) inhibitors, so increase their intake.
Anti-Glycation Products
Although glycation on the skin is an internal effect, you can still try a few products that boast of anti-glycation benefits. Look for skincare ingredients such as alisin, caffeine, green tea, rosmarinic acid, and carnosine. Here are a couple of our favourites:
Now that you know everything about glycation aka damage caused to the skin due to too much sugar intake as well as how to prevent it, we hope you’re ready to change your skincare game for the win!
Featured Image: Pinterest
