Sugar & Skin Health: The Bittersweet Truth
Written By: Ashley Archer, 3rd Year Medical Student Reviewed By: Lorna Hylledig, EDD., MSPH., RDN., LDN Mmm! Cakes, ice cream, and gummy candies are the guilty pleasures of so many people, including me. Many of us have come to learn that, unfortunately, these sweet treats aren't our BFF in terms of maintaining our waistlines and overall health. To add insult to injury, our favorite sugary treats can also negatively impact the health and appearance of our skin. That's right, your late-night sweet tooth could be contributing to acne and wrinkle formation. So, How Exactly Does Sugar Impact Skin? Acne In order to understand how sugar may contribute to acne, we must first appreciate the key players in its pathogenesis. Acne is caused by the overproduction of the oily substance that lubricates and protects our skin called sebum (1). It is also caused by inflammation and excessive proliferation of keratinocytes (skin cells) and the bacterium propionibacterium acnes in pi...