Sugar And Spice Are Not That Nice When It Comes To Your Skin
It may be National Chocolate Week, but Consultant Dermatologist for sk:n advises of the impact too much sugar can have on your skin.
National Chocolate Week is coming up on the 14th October/It’s National Chocolate Week and although we rarely need an excuse to treat ourselves, it’s not just our waistline that can be impacted by over-indulging in the sweet stuff. The negative effects of excess sugar consumption can have a huge impact on our skin.
Also, it seems that over a year in and out of lockdowns has resulted in many of us reaching for the snack more frequently, figures show spending on chocolate has soared by £50m this year. So, as we head into a week of celebrating the nation’s favourite sugary treat, Professor Firas Al-Niaimi, Consultant Dermatologist for the UK’s leading skin clinic sk:n, offers some guidance on how to enjoy chocolate in moderation, limiting the negative effects, particularly on your skin.
Professor Firas explains the science behind the impact of sugar on your skin:
- Clogged pores and acne
Sugar has been proven to weaken the immune system, which can make it harder for us to fight bacteria, a compromised immune system is more likely to suffer from clogged pores and potentially acne, ruining the skins complexion and texture.
- Dehydrated skin
Sugar is a dehydrating agent. Dehydration can really show in the skin, especially face, and can dull the complexion, making skin look less youthful. The results of eating lots of sugar can also be sallow and lacklustre skin, unwanted dark circles, swelling and breakouts.
- Collagen breakdown
When we consume a lot of sweet food, the influx of sugar triggers insulin production, which results in protein-utilisation malfunctions. It affects the production of the proteins and amino acids in your system, which will in turn break down the natural collagen in your skin. Collagen is the springy substance that makes your skin look plump, youthful, and lifted.
Thankfully, chocolate isn’t off the cards completely, Professor Firas suggests consumption in moderation is key:
“I hear many people complain about the current state of their skin and one of the first things I ask about is their diet. Whether your concern is acne or ageing, what you eat plays a significant role in the appearance and condition of your skin.
“Don’t worry, this isn’t a warning to cut out chocolate entirely. It’s just important for us to understand the physical consequences of our diet. Chocolate and other sugary treats are okay, as long as they’re consumed in moderation.”
For more information, please contact the sk:n press office on:
[email protected] or 0117 973 3300NOTES TO THE EDITOR
sk:n is the UK’s leading medical skincare clinic group offering world leading dermatology expertise on the high street. With over 100 doctors at over 50 state-of-the-art clinics nationwide, sk:n provides more highly medically trained staff than any other chain of clinics. Offering more than 200 clinically proven treatments ranging from dermatology treatments and laser hair removal to anti-ageing injectables, acne solutions to tattoo removal, sk:n offers world-leading expertise that you can trust.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/
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