We’re heading into a wonderful time of year when sweets and treats abound. While it is a good thing to enjoy the season, and that may mean occasionally partaking in the dessert buffet or cookie swap, it’s important to be sure you’re not indulging too much and consuming too much sugar. 

But why? There are many reasons, and it’s well-known that too much sugar in our diet can affect our bodies in many negative ways, inside and out. Sugar can also negatively affect our skin in several ways, accelerating the aging process and causing inflammation. 

To help control these negative impacts sugar has on our skin, we should be careful about what we eat and stick to a healthy diet. But it’s easier said than done during the holidays! Here is more information about sugar’s effect on the skin that will hopefully help you avoid eating too many sweets this holiday season.

How Too Much Sugar Negatively Affects Our Skin

The average American consumes almost 20 teaspoons of sugar each day, which is more than twice the amount recommended by the American Heart Association. If that’s on a normal day, just think how much sugar many people consume during the holidays! When we eat way too much sugar, here’s what can happen with your skin.

Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Skin inflammation can cause or worsen acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. When we consume sugar, insulin is released from the pancreas to absorb the sugar and transfer it to our liver. The pancreas can only process so much sugar, so if there is too much in the body, it can cause inflammation. If you already have a medical history of chronic inflammation, you may be exacerbating it by eating too much sugar.

Accelerated Aging

Genetics play a big part in how you age, but there are many other factors as well, including what you eat. Researchers have gathered data to pinpoint a process called glycation that may play a role in skin related wear and aging. When artificial and processed sugar enters our bloodstream, it will sometimes attach to collagen and elastin proteins in the skin and start to break them down. When this happens, the skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles begin to form.

Oily Skin

Foods with a high glycemic index spike your blood sugar and activate hormones in the body that stimulate oil production in the skin. Our skin naturally produces oil called sebum to help keep the skin moisturized, but if there is an excess amount of oil on the skin, your pores can become clogged and cause acne breakouts.

Tips to Avoid Too Much Sugar During the Holidays

First, an obvious answer. Keep the sweets and treats you eat in check. This will be better for your overall health, including your skin. At meals, potlucks, and buffets, focus on vegetables and protein that are less likely to have high amounts of sugar. Indulge wisely! 

You may also want to supplement your diet during this time with anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, turmeric, green tea, and blueberries. And if you are eating more sugar-filled carbs than normal, pair them with a fat or protein to lessen the blood sugar spike and inflammatory reaction. 

Let Rodgers Dermatology Help You Get Ready for the Holidays!

While it’s always best to avoid wrinkles and skin conditions, such as acne, as much as possible, if you are experiencing these issues, Dr. Timothy Rodgers can help you get back on track by providing treatment for these conditions and more. We can also help get your skin ready for all the festive events that are to come with our huge variety of Cosmetic Dermatology options.. Book an appointment today

If you would like to schedule an appointment or have any other skin-related concerns, schedule a consultation by calling 972-704-2400 or booking your appointment online.