There are many things that can cause skin to age prematurely, like sun damage, environmental factors and genetics. But one of the biggest culprits is something you put in your body every day. With almost 30 percent of Americans consuming more than 25 teaspoons of added sugar each day, it’s no wonder we’re losing elasticity in our skin and looking tired, haggard and old before our time.
Sugar is a tricky thing. You may already know that sugar can cause cavities and weight gain, but did you know it can affect your skin, too? It makes sense when you think about it. Sugar is highly acidic, and sugar-laden foods are often inflammatory. Inflammation is the root cause of almost every chronic disease known to man — including skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis .
Here are some reasons why sugar makes your skin look older:
Excess sugar breaks down collagen.
Collagen is what keeps your skin plump and wrinkles-free. Damaged collagen means fine lines accumulate much faster than they would if you had healthy collagen.
Lack of hydration causes wrinkles.
When you consume too much sugar, it causes your body to retain water, which leaves your skin feeling dehydrated, resulting in wrinkles around the eyes and forehead.
Sugar causes inflammation.
Sugar causes your body to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals that break down the delicate tissue around the eyes, causing dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.
Sugar causes acne.
Sugar spikes insulin levels, which sends blood sugar levels soaring for hours after it’s consumed. High blood sugar levels cause pimples to develop on your chin and jaw line — the areas most exposed to the elements
Sugar also encourages cell turnover
It is a good thing in moderation, but a bad thing when your body is exposed to too much of it. Cell turnover is important for healthy skin because it removes dead cells from your epidermis , but when there’s too much turnover, the result is dryness and irritation. In fact, high sugar intake has been linked to acne breakouts .
