Have you ever wondered that excessive intake of simple carbohydrates can ruin your skin? Yes, too much of sugar can give rise to fine lines, wrinkles and loosening of the skin. Well, this happens due to a natural process called gylcation, which attaches sugar present in the bloodstream to proteins and give rise to harmful new molecules known as advanced glycation end products. Formation of advanced glycation depends upon the amount of the sugar you take, the more sugar you consume, the more AGEs you develop. As per experts, accumulation of AGEs damage adjacent proteins in a domino like pattern.
When you consume more sugar or high glycemic foods that rapidly convert to sugar, your body breaks down these carbohydrates into glucose which results in increased levels of insulin.
Consumption of carbohydrates foods such as refined sugar, white bread and soda, increases your insulin levels ,which eventually leads to inflammation throughout the body. Besides, the more sugar you consume, the more likely you are to develop insulin resistance, which can manifest as excess hair growth (hirsutism) and dark patches on the neck and in body creases.
You will be surprised to know that all acne is hormonal to some degree. Because of genetics, acne-prone skin is sensitive to androgens (male sex hormones). They increase sebum production and skin cell growth.
When you eat sugar, your body releases insulin, which helps store sugar in your cells for later use. The advanced glycation end products from a diet chronically high in sugar results in damage to your cells and inflammation. Eventually you can develop insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. Common signs of insulin resistance include dark patches on your underarm and the back of your neck and skin tags especially on your neck.
Candida is a yeast that lives in the skin and digestive track. Normally it’s harmless and in certain conditions like excessive sugar intake it can grow out of control and wrecks havoc on your face skin. Candida overgrowth in the skin causes inflammation in the skin and leads to acne.
As explained above the sugar travels through your bloodstream and gets attached to proteins through glycation and form advanced glycation end products. Over time, these molecules begin to accumulate and destroy surrounding proteins. Collagen is the most common protein in your body and, coupled with the protein elastin, it keeps skin firm and supple. Damaged collagen and elastin become rigid and brittle, causing skin to thin, discolour, and develop rashes and infection.
Your skin is composed of an outer layer, or epidermis, and the layer underneath, or dermis. The dermis is made up of fibers, elastin, Glyco-proteins and proteins, or collagen. The main role of dermis is to manufacture new cells, and replace them with old cells to provide support to the epidermis. A balance between formation of new cells and shedding of old ones is extremely essential to have a young and healthy skin. Glycated collagen fails to regenerate new cells as effectively, thereby, your skin becomes saggy and wrinkled.
Now that you know how excessive intake of sugar can affect your skin health, we hope you would take no time to limit its use.
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