You’d have had to be living under a rock for the last few years not to have heard time and time again about the dangers of simple carbohydrates to your diet goals. But what about your skin?

That’s right… sugar can be as bad for your face as it is for your hips. I fact, Nicholas Perricone, M.D., a leading dermatologist, best-selling author and expert on facial rejuvenation recommends steering clear of sugar and other high-glycemic carbohydrates for healthier, better-looking skin.

In fact, according to Dr. Perricone, some foods we once thought were the cornerstone of a successful weight-loss or even maintenance diet can actually be causing more harm than good.

Sugar and the Aging Process

Dr. Perricone has found that it is inflammation that is at the root of aging in our organ systems. This includes our skin – which is really our largest organ. Rapid rises in blood sugar (say from eating a candy bar or drinking a soda) can result in biochemical changes on the cellular level that cause inflammation and accelerate the aging process. This process happens in all of our organs and, depending on a variety of other factors, can have varying results. We can have deterioration of the brain, the heart – or even the skin based on this inflammation alone. But the dangers of sugar to our youth don’t stop there. When our blood sugar rises quickly, the sugar we have just ingested can attach itself to the collagen in our skin. This process is called glycation and it makes the skin increasingly stiff and inflexible. The elasticity of your natural collagen is what keeps your skin resilient and young-looking. And it’s the loss of this flexibility that gives rise to those dreaded and unwelcome fine lines and – even worse – wrinkles!

The Surprising Sources of Sugar

Of course we know that there is sugar (and a lot of it) in sodas, candy bars and ice cream, but it’s not just sugar that we need to avoid – it’s those high-glycemic carbohydrates (or simple carbs) that our bodies convert to sugar at the drop of a hat. Simple carbs are all over our diet – rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, cereal – and the list goes on. So even if you’re not trying to lose weight, keep an eye on the amount of these high-glycemic carbohydrates that cross your lips. For instance, as far as your skin and its aging process are concerned, there is no difference between a plain baked potato and a couple of candy bars.

Staying on the Straight and Narrow

What goes up must come down and rapid rises in blood sugar are always accompanied by a fall. So it’s very easy to become trapped in a cycle of eating simply to maintain the energy and mood that high levels of sugar give us. But it is precisely that cycle that wreaks havoc on our diets and our skin. By decreasing your overall intake of simple carbohydrates and increasing your intake of proteins, you can break the cycle and help keep your skin looking great.

Remember, a piece of chocolate or a bowl of ice cream every once in a while is just fine, but a lifestyle of sweets and the accompanying blood sugar peaks and valleys is what to avoid.

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