Sugar, once considered a sweet indulgence, is now known to be a major cause of skin ageing. Dryness, sagginess, fine lines, and wrinkles. Under-eye circles or puffy eyes. Breakouts and redness. You name it; sugar remains the culprit.
Discover Avea’s top 5 science-backed tips to reverse the damage sugar causes to your skin. Your cells and bank account deserve a break, and your skincare routine deserves an upgrade.
A few simple changes can help you regain your skin’s youthful glow and vitality. True beauty is more than skin deep– it starts with taking care of your cells.
How sugar affects your skin
Excess sugar in your blood stream activate several biochemical pathways that lead to skin ageing.
1. Aggravation of inflammatory skin conditions
Simple carbs, including bread and pasta, are broken down into glucose very rapidly, resulting in high blood sugar levels. They’re the ‘’bad carbs’’. Constant high blood sugar levels can result in inflammation in the body– the source of skin conditions like eczema or rosacea. Excessive sugar intake can also cause your body to create more sebum oil, which in turn results in acne, pimples, or zits.
2. Premature ageing and glycation
Eating too much sugar causes a natural process called glycation– it occurs when blood glucose levels are out of balance. Sugar molecules begin attaching to collagen and elastin proteins, rendering them less effective.
This process leads to the formation of harmful molecules known as AGEs. These decrease natural antioxidants and make your skin more susceptible to damage from the sun and pollution.
Besides, glycation alters the type of collagen in your skin, breaking down the strong Type III collagen into the weaker Type I collagen. This results in a decrease in the structure, flexibility, and strength of your skin.
For a more comprehensive guide to help you reverse your ageing process. Download our E-Book.
How to protect your skin from damages caused by sugar
Here are Avea’s top 5 tips for the treatment and prevention of skin ageing, aka, the best ‘’moisturisers’’ to avoid dry and dull skin.
1. Avoid hidden sugars
You might be putting stress on your skin cells if you consume the following on a frequent basis– breakfast cereals, white and whole-grain breads, granola bars, pasta sauces, yoghurt, dried fruits, fruit juices, fizzy drinks, and alcohol. They all contain an insane amount of sugar. Food industries also hide behind exclusive labels as high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, or agave syrup. Stay away from them!
2. Balance your blood sugar levels
Avoid blood sugar spikes. These are sharp rises and falls in blood sugar levels upon consuming diets high in carbs.
3. Get enough sleep
Science has consistently shown how a lack of sleep increases our stress hormone cortisol, which is known to increase the effects of glycation by up to 20%. Besides, our sleep hormone melatonin can decrease the downstream inflammatory effects of AGEs (produced from glycation) by up to 50%. So, make sure you get enough ZZZs on a daily basis!
4. Increase your daily water intake
Keeping your body hydrated promotes the production of collagen and elastin, thereby mediating the ageing effects of glycation. Make sure you drink enough water and consume lots of water-rich foods such as tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, lettuce or watermelon to name a few. Increasing your collagen levels can also help with hydration.
5. Top off your diet with enough Vitamin C, B1, and B6
Antioxidants like Vitamin C are known to help collagen and elastin hold their structure, thereby maintaining a healthy complexion. Vitamins B1 and B6 are known as inhibitors of glycation and AGEs. Look for green leafy vegetables like cabbage, kale, spinach, or broccoli, broccoli, citrus fruits or strawberries in your daily diet.
Key Takeaway
Sugar ages your skin. By understanding the detrimental effects of sugar on your skin and implementing Avea’s top 5 science-backed tips, you can effectively reverse the damage caused at cellular and molecular levels.
Say goodbye to premature ageing and hello to skin that thrives with vitality and youthfulness. Start by making sure your blood sugar levels in check with the Avea Stabiliser.
