Effect of a High Sugar Diet on the Skin - Clinical Signs and Treatment

Introduction:

Skin is a natural barrier that protects our body from the external environment. Skin not only protects from the damage caused by the external environment but also prevents water loss from the body. The high-sugar diet affects the body's overall health, resulting in tooth decay to diabetes. It also harms the skin, causing inflammation, acceleration of aging, formation of fine lines and wrinkles, and excessive oil production.

What Is a High Sugar Diet?

A diet rich in high glycemic (glucose) index foods is a high-sugar diet that causes a sudden rise in blood sugar levels. The glycemic index is a measurement given for foods to indicate the amount of sugar. The high sugar levels in the blood pose various problems to the body. Some examples of high glycemic index foods are white and whole wheat bread, beverages, cakes, and confectionaries, fruit yogurt, and fruits such as watermelon and pineapple.

How Does High Sugar Affect the Body?

• The most common problem with high sugar diet is weight gain and obesity.

• It also causes systemic inflammation and joint pain.

• Tooth decay is a common problem seen in children.

• Sometimes, it also causes attention deficit in some people.

• It also causes high blood pressure.

• The immune function of the body gets disturbed.

• It also causes heart disease.

• It accelerates skin aging.

What Are the Changes in the Skin Because of a High-Sugar Diet?

The effects of a high-sugar diet on the skin are

1. Inflammatory skin condition.

2. Excess oil production.

3. Accelerates aging.

Inflammatory Skin Conditions:

Skin inflammation can be in various forms. Acne, dermatitis, psoriasis and rosacea are some inflammatory skin conditions provoked by inflammation in the body. If there are any chronic inflammatory skin conditions, it is accelerated by a high intake of sugar. A high-sugar diet can increase the blood sugar level, increasing inflammation in the body.

Excess Oil Production:

Increased blood sugar levels activate the hormone (testosterone) responsible for oil production in the skin. The hormone is a chemical substance responsible for performing various functions. The skin produces an oil-like substance called sebum as a moisturizer. However, increased blood sugar results in excessive oil production by activating testosterone that clog the pores resulting in acne and breakouts.

Accelerates Aging:

Collagen and elastin are two different proteins present in the skin. They are responsible for maintaining the skin's structure and firmness. A high blood sugar level resulting from a high-sugar diet will connect with these proteins and break them down, which causes dullness, loss of elasticity, and sagginess.

What Is the Link Between Aging and Glycation?

Glycation:

It is a spontaneous non-enzymatic reaction between sugars and proteins, nucleic acids in the body resulting in the formation of an unstable product. The further reaction leads to the formation of a more stable product called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The accumulation of these products is the main reason for the aging process.

Aging:

It is a decline in the physiological function of the body.

Skin, which acts as a barrier, undergoes aging because of internal and external factors.

Characteristics of Aging:

They are:

• Loss of elasticity.

• Dryness.

• Loss of thickness.

The most common factor responsible for skin aging is AGEs. These products are formed when there is excess blood sugar in the body, which reacts with proteins (collagen and elastin) present in the outer layer of the skin.

Apart from a high-sugar diet, external factors like smoking and sunlight play a major role in the deposition of products promoting aging.

Advanced glycation end products react with proteins and other nucleic acids and modify their physiological function. It leads to decreased cell proliferation (multiplication of cells ), increased cell senescence (cell ages and stops to divide), and apoptosis (cell death), leading to skin aging.

What Are Natural and Added Sugars?

Sugars are present in two forms: natural and added sugar. Natural sugars are present in fruits, vegetables, and milk. Foods with natural sugar are packed with various minerals and vitamins. Added sugars are sugars that are added while preparing foods, such as brown sugar and corn syrup. While eating fruits, the natural sugar present in them is slowly digested, and the blood sugar level rises slowly. In contrast, the sugar in cake and cookies are quickly digested, causing a sudden spike in sugar level.

How to Control Your Diet to Have Healthy Skin?

Sugar is not present only in sweets or candies but also in other non-sweet items. The main aim is to control sugar intake.

• Begin with reducing the sugar content in daily drinks like tea and coffee. If possible, replace them with sugar-free drinks or low-sugar drinks.

• Checking the content lists for added sugars while buying packed foods.

• When preparing sweets, opt for natural sources of sugar like dates and figs instead of processed sugar.

• Have a diet rich in natural sources of sugar, like fruits and vegetables.

• It is advisable to avoid added sugars in baked foods, sweets, and beverages.

• Avoid eating deep-fried items and opt for air-fried food.

• Have foods rich in fiber which keeps the stomach full for a long time.

• Have small portions of food at regular intervals to avoid cravings.

Apart from these dietary changes, other ways to keep the skin healthy are:

• Drink plenty of water.

• Exercise regularly.

• Reduce stress.

• Good skincare.

• Sufficient sleep.

How to Treat Aging and Other Effects of a High Sugar Diet?

Consult a dermatologist when experiencing aging or other effects. Treatment varies for each individual. Some of the commonly prescribed products are:

Sunscreen: Skin is protected from harmful UV rays and slows aging.

Topical Creams: Some over-the-counter medicines to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines that contain retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and vitamin A.

Laser Treatments: These will promote the skin naturally to produce collagen and regeneration of skin cells.

Dermal Fillers: A gel-like substance is injected under the skin to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines.

Conclusion:

Skin aging is one of the important effects of a high-sugar diet. The impact of a high-sugar diet on the skin is relatively higher than other factors. One can control the effects by modifying the diet and having a healthy routine. Consult a nutritionist to get help modifying the diet and a dermatologist to have a proper treatment regime for skin aging.