Sugar and skin aging: Sweets are making the skin age prematurely, experts warn on the connection between blood sugar and acne.

If your skin is constantly looking lifeless, then it is not just bad eating habits or pollution that is responsible for it. Health experts and dermatologists have warned that white sugar (refined sugar) included in the daily diet is causing the most harm to the skin. From morning tea and coffee to sweets eaten after dinner, excessive consumption of sugar is increasing wrinkles and spots on the face at an early age. According to medical science, sugar has a direct effect on our body as well as skin cells, due to which the skin starts looking prematurely old.

Increasing levels of glucose and insulin: Why do pimples appear on the face?

When we eat too much sugar, our digestive system immediately converts it into glucose. Due to this, blood sugar level and insulin level suddenly increases. Due to increase in insulin in the body, production of sebum (oil) within the skin becomes excessive. This extra oil and dirt together clog the pores of the face, due to which the problem of pimples and acne persists on the face. Doctors at leading skin care clinics in Delhi say that people who stop or reduce the intake of sweets immediately see improvement in their skin within just two weeks.

Expert Statement: Know what medical science says

“Eating too much sugar starts the process of glycation in the body. In this, the sugar molecules bind with the collagen and elastin proteins that keep the skin flexible and make them hard. This causes the skin to lose its natural glow and premature aging starts to appear.”
— Senior Dermatologist, New Delhi

Recognize the harm of sugar by these symptoms and prevent it like this

Whether your skin is being harmed by sugar or not can be identified by some clear signs. If deep wrinkles have started appearing on your cheeks and forehead, or the skin near the chin and jawline has started sagging, then these can be side effects of sugar. Apart from this, persistent redness on the face, enlargement of pores due to sebum and skin color turning yellow or gray (lifeless) are also its symptoms.

The first step to avoid this harm is to reduce refined sugar from your diet. Use natural sugar or healthy sweetener in limited quantity instead of sugar. Along with this, include anti-glycation foods like berries (strawberries, blueberries), green tea, broccoli and spinach in your daily diet. These foods protect the collagen of the skin and help in bringing back the glow of the skin.