We know all our customers are doing their best to eliminate sugar from their diet. It is hard in this day and age. Almost every single premade food has added sugar. That means that to eat a low-carb diet, you end up needing to cook nearly everything from scratch or spend big bucks on healthy products.
And, sometimes, we all indulge in things that aren’t great for us. We don’t judge anyone for their eating habits. We are all humans, doing our best and trying our hardest to make healthy choices. Sometimes, you eat things that don’t fit into your healthy plan. It happens to everyone!
We always seek more incentives to help us stick to our health goals. Today, we are looking at the science behind the old wives’ tale that sugar causes acne. You’ve probably heard it a million times. But does sugar really cause breakouts?
Eating sugar can cause blood sugar spikes and the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and sebum (oil). Both of those can contribute to breakouts. Sugar can also cause inflammation in the body that can cause skin damage. However, the relationship between sugar and acne is still being researched.
“Together with insulin, IGF-1 stimulates the sebaceous glands and excessive keratinisation in the area of the sebaceous glands, which is why they become clogged, leading to acne and inflammation,” said Dr. Lela Ahlemann, a specialist in dermatology.
Fluctuations in blood sugar can impact the skin. Sugar and foods with a high glycemic load may increase the risk of acne or worsen it. A low-GL diet can lower the amount of oil secretion on the skin and possibly lower the risk of a breakout. Sticking to a low-GL diet has been linked to shorter breakouts.
Sugar can also alter your microbiome. Unhealthy imbalances in your microbiome can impact your skin. Sugar can feed the “bad” bacteria in the gut and lower the amount of “good” bacteria.
If you want to eat a low-GL diet to help your skin, there’s one drink you should avoid. Cow’s milk is a low-GL drink. However, it has been linked to breakouts in multiple studies. All types of cow’s milk — whole, low-fat and skim — have been linked to more acne. Cutting out milk may be beneficial if you are trying to help your skin through diet.
Many of us are embarrassed to struggle with acne as adults. It’s viewed as a teenager’s problem. But it can happen at any age. Knowing that cutting out sugar can help may be a comfort and might give you another reason to shun the white stuff!
