The Effects of Sugar on Your Skin: Premature Aging Is Just One of Them
DailyMakeover.com By Shannon Farrell How Your Sugar Addiction Is Ruining Your Skin 
Youve heard the claims, youve read the studies sugar does harm to the body, causing weight gain, diabetes and countless other side effects. But what does it do to the skin? We spoke with top skincare experts to find out what some of our favorite treats are doing to our complexion. You might want to put down the chocolate croissant while you read this one. What Sugar Does To Your Skin Those breakouts may not be hormonal like you thought. Sugar can cause your skin to break out because it increases inflammation. Most people dont realize that skin directly correlates to our digestive system, says Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection. If we eat something we cant digest or have trouble digesting, there are consequences. However, not everyone is affected the same way. Some people claim their acne gets worse when they have chocolate or sugar and others notice no change, says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. So dont assume that putting the chocolate bar down will eliminate all acne problems. If the blemishes do continue, make sure to visit your dermatologist to find an alternate source. If you are not in control of breakouts, you risk getting scars from the continual breakouts, says Vargas. For some people, its just persistent discoloration. Either way, you wont have a great complexion and you will always wish for that perfect skin. She recommends looking for products containing kojic acid, found in her Exfoliating Mask ($75, joannavargas.com), that helps to even out pigment. Chemical peels performed seasonally by a dermatologist also help to fix texture problems and discoloration. The treatment takes less than an hour and requires a few days of recovery (dry, flaky skin is a side effect), but the result is glowing, spot-free skin. Long-term effects of consuming sugar include premature aging and scarring. Sugar attaches to proteins in the bloodstream, forming new molecules, called advanced glycation end products (or AGEs), that damage both collagen and elastin, contributing to sagging and wrinkles. AGEs also deactivate natural antioxidant enzymes, leaving the skin more susceptible to sun damage. According to a 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology, these effects increase at the age of 35 and continue rapidly as you age. Fight these effects with anti-aging products that contain retinoids or over-the-counter retinols like RoC Retinol Correction Sensitive Night Cream ($21.99, ulta.com), which has a milder strength so no redness occurs. What About Artificial Sweeteners? Artificial sugars, although less tested, dont get the experts stamp of approval, either. For most people, artifical sweeteners are even worse, says Vargas. They are pure chemicals and can cause a lot of problems. Any type of impurities in the system will cause more breakouts. They also bring on the cravings. Recent studies have shown that aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates, says Dr. Frank Lipman, Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center. While complex carbohydrates like bread and pasta also cause sugar spikes, the simple sugars found in fruits and vegetables are less of a concern. They dont cause high levels of insulin and instead, they are packed with healthy enzymes that are so easy to digest they boost the digestive system. However, Dr. Lipman doesnt recommend fruit juice or dried fruit because both are very high in sugar. Vargas suggests drinking a green juice every day for glowing skin. Plus, its the easiest and fastest way to digest antioxidants when your skin needs a boost. How To Fight Sugar Cravings Although a little sugar wont kill you or completely ruin your skin, all three experts do recommend eliminating most of your sugar intake. Here are some easy tips to make it happen. Exercise Tanzi recommends regular exercise to use up excess sugar as fuel. (Remember, sugar is a carbohydrate). Exercise also helps to reduce tension, boost your energy level and decrease the need for a sugar lift. Get your vitamins Nutrient deficiencies can make cravings worse and the fewer nutrient deficiencies, the fewer cravings, says Dr. Lipman. Certain nutrients seem to improve blood sugar control including chromium, vitamin B3 and magnesium. A detox like Lipmans Be Well Cleanse eliminates sugar from the diet and focuses on a gluten and dairy-free diet. After the cravings subside, your body adjusts and no longer craves sugar. Add substitutes Simply adding spices like coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom will naturally flavor foods and reduce the craving to add sugar. Lipman also recommends a little bit of Stevia (a plant based natural sweetener), raw honey or maple syrup for added sweetness. Get your zzzs Ever notice that the more tired you are, the more likely you are to grab something sweet? Pack in 7-8 hours of sleep every night to avoid the cravings. Plus, when youre exhausted a sugar pick-me-up is the last thing you want succumb to, since the crash is often worse than the initial tiredness. Beware of hidden sugars Even our breads are packed with sugars. Remember that most of the complex carbohydrates we consume like bread, bagels and pasta arent really complex at all, says Lipman. They are usually highly refined and act just like sugars in the body and are to be avoided. Plus all of the following sugars have the same harmful effects on the skin: corn syrup, corn sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, honey, molasses, turbinado sugar and brown sugar.]>>
Youve heard the claims, youve read the studies sugar does harm to the body, causing weight gain, diabetes and countless other side effects. But what does it do to the skin? We spoke with top skincare experts to find out what some of our favorite treats are doing to our complexion. You might want to put down the chocolate croissant while you read this one. What Sugar Does To Your Skin Those breakouts may not be hormonal like you thought. Sugar can cause your skin to break out because it increases inflammation. Most people dont realize that skin directly correlates to our digestive system, says Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection. If we eat something we cant digest or have trouble digesting, there are consequences. However, not everyone is affected the same way. Some people claim their acne gets worse when they have chocolate or sugar and others notice no change, says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. So dont assume that putting the chocolate bar down will eliminate all acne problems. If the blemishes do continue, make sure to visit your dermatologist to find an alternate source. If you are not in control of breakouts, you risk getting scars from the continual breakouts, says Vargas. For some people, its just persistent discoloration. Either way, you wont have a great complexion and you will always wish for that perfect skin. She recommends looking for products containing kojic acid, found in her Exfoliating Mask ($75, joannavargas.com), that helps to even out pigment. Chemical peels performed seasonally by a dermatologist also help to fix texture problems and discoloration. The treatment takes less than an hour and requires a few days of recovery (dry, flaky skin is a side effect), but the result is glowing, spot-free skin. Long-term effects of consuming sugar include premature aging and scarring. Sugar attaches to proteins in the bloodstream, forming new molecules, called advanced glycation end products (or AGEs), that damage both collagen and elastin, contributing to sagging and wrinkles. AGEs also deactivate natural antioxidant enzymes, leaving the skin more susceptible to sun damage. According to a 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology, these effects increase at the age of 35 and continue rapidly as you age. Fight these effects with anti-aging products that contain retinoids or over-the-counter retinols like RoC Retinol Correction Sensitive Night Cream ($21.99, ulta.com), which has a milder strength so no redness occurs. What About Artificial Sweeteners? Artificial sugars, although less tested, dont get the experts stamp of approval, either. For most people, artifical sweeteners are even worse, says Vargas. They are pure chemicals and can cause a lot of problems. Any type of impurities in the system will cause more breakouts. They also bring on the cravings. Recent studies have shown that aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates, says Dr. Frank Lipman, Integrative & Functional Medicine Physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center. While complex carbohydrates like bread and pasta also cause sugar spikes, the simple sugars found in fruits and vegetables are less of a concern. They dont cause high levels of insulin and instead, they are packed with healthy enzymes that are so easy to digest they boost the digestive system. However, Dr. Lipman doesnt recommend fruit juice or dried fruit because both are very high in sugar. Vargas suggests drinking a green juice every day for glowing skin. Plus, its the easiest and fastest way to digest antioxidants when your skin needs a boost. How To Fight Sugar Cravings Although a little sugar wont kill you or completely ruin your skin, all three experts do recommend eliminating most of your sugar intake. Here are some easy tips to make it happen. Exercise Tanzi recommends regular exercise to use up excess sugar as fuel. (Remember, sugar is a carbohydrate). Exercise also helps to reduce tension, boost your energy level and decrease the need for a sugar lift. Get your vitamins Nutrient deficiencies can make cravings worse and the fewer nutrient deficiencies, the fewer cravings, says Dr. Lipman. Certain nutrients seem to improve blood sugar control including chromium, vitamin B3 and magnesium. A detox like Lipmans Be Well Cleanse eliminates sugar from the diet and focuses on a gluten and dairy-free diet. After the cravings subside, your body adjusts and no longer craves sugar. Add substitutes Simply adding spices like coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom will naturally flavor foods and reduce the craving to add sugar. Lipman also recommends a little bit of Stevia (a plant based natural sweetener), raw honey or maple syrup for added sweetness. Get your zzzs Ever notice that the more tired you are, the more likely you are to grab something sweet? Pack in 7-8 hours of sleep every night to avoid the cravings. Plus, when youre exhausted a sugar pick-me-up is the last thing you want succumb to, since the crash is often worse than the initial tiredness. Beware of hidden sugars Even our breads are packed with sugars. Remember that most of the complex carbohydrates we consume like bread, bagels and pasta arent really complex at all, says Lipman. They are usually highly refined and act just like sugars in the body and are to be avoided. Plus all of the following sugars have the same harmful effects on the skin: corn syrup, corn sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, honey, molasses, turbinado sugar and brown sugar.]>>
