The Sweet Impact: How Sugar Negatively Affects Your Skin

Sugar is everywhere around us, from the obvious sweets to the hidden sugars in “healthy” foods. In addition to the known effects on our health and weight, sugar also has a surprising effect on our skin. Recently, it was mentioned in the news that 1.4 million Dutch people between the ages of 40 and 75 have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. This underscores the importance of sugar consumption and its consequences. In this blog, we delve deeper into the sweet world of sugars and explore how they can affect our skin.

What are simple sugars, sweeteners, and complex carbohydrates?

Simple simple sugars, also known as simple carbohydrates, are found in foods such as soda, candy, and pastries. They are quickly absorbed by the body and can lead to rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides, are the most basic form of carbohydrates. They consist of a single sugar molecule and are the building blocks for more complex sugars such as disaccharides and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are formed by the breakdown of complex carbohydrates during digestion or by photosynthesis in plants. Here are some of the most common simple forms and their properties:

1. Glucose – Also known as dextrose, glucose is the most common form of sugar in the human body and is often referred to as ‘blood sugar’. It is the primary energy source for cells and is found in fruits, vegetables, and honey.
2. Fructose – Or fruit sugar, is a monosaccharide that naturally occurs in fruit, some vegetables, and honey. It is sweeter than glucose and is often used in processed foods and sweeteners.
3. Galactose – Galactose is less sweet than glucose and is not often found alone in foods. It is part of lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. Galactose is formed when lactose is broken down during digestion.

Sweeteners

Synthetic sugars, often referred to as artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes, are chemically manufactured substances or naturally occurring substances that have been chemically modified.

1. Aspartame – One of the most well-known artificial sweeteners, used in beverages, chewing gum, and diet products. It is much sweeter than sugar.
2. Sucralose – Another popular synthetic sweetener, known under the brand Splenda. It is often used in baking products because it is heat resistant.
3. Saccharine – One of the oldest artificial sweeteners, found in products such as sweeteners, beverages, and toothpaste.
4. Acesulfame-K (acesulfame potassium) – Often used in combination with other sweeteners to enhance sweetness. It is found in diet drinks, chewing gum, and jelly.
5. Neotame – It is much sweeter and is used in a variety of foods and beverages, including soft drinks and pastries.

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates, also known as polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose, play a crucial role in a healthy diet. Unlike simple sugars that are quickly absorbed and provide a quick energy peak, complex carbohydrates are broken down more slowly by our body. This slow digestion process provides a stable and long-lasting energy supply, reducing the peaks and valleys in your blood sugar level.

You can find these valuable nutrients in foods such as whole grains, including brown rice and quinoa, as well as in whole grain bread, vegetables, legumes, and certain types of fruit. Thanks to these longer chains of sugar molecules, complex carbohydrates not only provide energy, but also contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.

1. Starch – Is a major source of energy in many foods, such as potatoes, pasta, and beans. It is broken down into glucose during digestion, providing the body with fuel.
2. Cellulose – On the other hand, is a form of fiber found in plants and aids in digestion, despite not being broken down into glucose. Fibers play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy digestion and promoting a sense of satiety.
3. Pectin – Found in fruit peels, it is a soluble fiber that can help lower cholesterol levels.
4. Glycogen – Stored in the muscles and the liver, serves as a reserve source of energy for the body.

Choosing foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates over those with high levels of simple sugars can help maintain more stable energy and improve overall health.

Hidden Sugars

Hidden sugars are really everywhere, even in the corners where you least expect them. They sneak into our meals and snacks unnoticed, and before you know it, you’re consuming much more sugar than is good for you.

Consider fruit yogurt, something often seen as super healthy due to the good bacteria for your stomach. However, take a step into the supermarket and you’ll find rows of yogurts that are actually disguised sugar bombs due to all the added sweets and syrups.

And then the sauces and dressings – who would have thought that your favorite ketchup or barbecue sauce could actually significantly increase your sugar intake? Even an innocent salad dressing can hide more than you would want.

Even the snacks that you grab for a quick energy boost or because they seem ‘healthy’, such as muesli bars, are often full of hidden sugars. Yes, they contain nuts and grains, but they are held together by honey or other sweet binders.

So, what can you do? Start by reading the labels when you go grocery shopping. It’s important to be aware of where those sneaky sugars are hiding, so you can make better choices for your health. By playing a bit of detective with what you eat, you can ensure a better balance in your intake.

What are the effects on the skin?

Skin Aging

Skin aging is a natural phenomenon that is influenced by multiple factors, including what we eat.

Glycation and AGE’s: An important process in this context is glycation, in which too many sugar molecules in our body react with proteins or fats. This leads to the creation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGE’s). In our skin, AGE’s specifically bind to collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep our skin firm and elastic. This connection makes these proteins stiffer and less functional, resulting in wrinkles and a looser skin, and the texture of the skin deteriorates.

Oxidative stress: In addition, AGEs can increase oxidative stress in skin cells by stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress causes damage to the DNA, fats, and proteins in the cells, which accelerates the skin aging process.

Inflammation: AGEs also act on special receptors called RAGE (receptor for AGEs), which are located on various skin cells. When AGEs bind to RAGE, this leads to an increased production of inflammation-promoting proteins, which cause chronic inflammation and further facilitate the breakdown of important skin structures.

Learn more about Wrinkles

Acne

Eating sugar leads to a higher glucose level in the blood, which stimulates the production of insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is important because it promotes the growth of skin cells and sebaceous gland cells, as well as the production of sebum, the natural skin fat. This extra sebum can clog pores, which can cause or exacerbate acne.

In addition, IGF-1 can increase the action of androgens, the male hormones in the skin, leading to even more sebum production and thus a higher risk of acne. It also raises the levels of IGF-1 and insulin, which fuels inflammation in the skin. These inflammations create an ideal environment for acne to thrive, in a similar way as they influence skin aging. This shows how sugar intake can directly affect our skin health and appearance, especially when it comes to acne.

Eczema

Eczema is a common skin disease that can occur due to a mix of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and a hyperactive immune system, which sometimes reacts too strongly to certain stimuli from outside or within. This overreaction causes inflammation in the skin, leading to symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling, and damage to the natural skin barrier.

An important factor that can worsen eczema is eating too much sugar. If you consume a lot of sugar, it can drive up your blood sugar and insulin levels, which in turn influences the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 stimulates a certain type of white blood cells, the Th2 cells, into action. These cells are involved in the development of eczema and produce inflammatory proteins that amplify skin reactions.

Furthermore, a high blood sugar level can lead to glycation, a process in which sugars attach themselves to proteins, resulting in the formation of so-called advanced glycation end-products (AGE’s). These AGE’s can bind to special receptors on immune cells and thus trigger a series of inflammatory responses that can cause eczema symptoms to flare up.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that causes skin cells to grow too quickly. This leads to thick, scaly patches on the skin. An important factor that can worsen psoriasis is sugar intake. Eating too much sugar can increase inflammation in the body by stimulating certain inflammatory proteins, known as cytokines. These inflammations play a major role in psoriasis.

A specific way in which sugar can influence psoriasis is by triggering an immune system response called the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is activated by high sugar levels in the blood. This process is important for the immune response and leads to the production of IL-1β, an inflammation protein that is heavily involved in the development of psoriasis.

Eating too much sugar can also cause insulin resistance, which can increase the production of another inflammatory protein, TNF-α. TNF-α plays a direct role in the inflammatory processes of psoriasis and can further exacerbate the rapid growth of skin cells and inflammation, typical for psoriasis.

What about sweeteners?

Sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharine, and other artificial sweeteners, have a complex relationship with our health and can have indirect effects on our skin. Although these substances do not directly contribute to glycation processes as natural sugars do, because they do not have the same structural properties, they can still affect your skin health through other mechanisms.

One theory suggests that the consumption of artificial sweeteners may lead to inflammatory responses in the body. Chronic inflammation is associated with a range of skin problems, including acne and eczema. Moreover, artificial sweeteners, by disrupting the gut flora, can indirectly affect the skin, as a healthy gut flora is essential for clear and healthy skin.

However, it is important to emphasize that research into the effects of artificial sweeteners on the skin and overall health is still ongoing. The results and opinions are mixed, and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions. As with everything, moderation is key, and it is always a good idea to opt for a varied and balanced diet with minimal processed foods and artificial additives.

Reducing Makes Sense

Glycation and inflammation: Sweets, soda, and pastries can initiate the glycation process. This process accelerates skin aging because sugar molecules attach to collagen and elastin in our skin, causing these important proteins to lose their elasticity. In addition, it stimulates inflammatory responses in our body, which can result in skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

Delaying skin aging: By avoiding these direct sources of glycation and inflammation, we can slow down the development of wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging. A diet with fewer simple forms helps us maintain a youthful appearance for longer.

Role of antioxidants: A balanced diet, rich in foods high in antioxidants such as berries, green leafy vegetables, and nuts, provides protection against free radicals. These free radicals can damage cells and accelerate the aging process. Antioxidants counteract this by neutralizing free radicals.

What can Iconic Elements do for you?

The mentioned effects of sugars can accelerate or provoke skin aging, acne, and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Iconic Elements offers a range of products that can help you address these skin problems and keep your skin healthy:

Anti-aging Cream: This cream helps to reduce signs of aging and tighten the skin. It contains powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, helping to prevent premature aging. The antioxidant action protects the skin from harmful external influences, such as UV radiation and pollution, making the skin look younger and healthier.

Firming Booster serum: This serum firms the skin and improves elasticity. It works immediately by stimulating the production of skin collagen. Collagen is an important protein that gives the skin structure and firmness. By stimulating collagen production, the serum helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look tighter and more youthful.

Skin Cleansers Step 1 and 2: They thoroughly cleanse the skin without drying it out, which is essential for a healthy skin barrier and reduction of acne.

Calming Cream: Calms irritated skin and helps reduce inflammation, ideal for sensitive skin types.

Natural Moisturizer Cream: Intensively hydrates and helps restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

With these Iconic Elements products, you can externally support and protect your skin against the harmful effects of sugars. For a radiant skin, it’s not only important to limit sugar, but also to choose foods that support our overall health. This includes adequate hydration, intake of healthy fats, and essential vitamins. Healthy and youthful skin is the result of a holistic approach to our skincare, nutrition, and lifestyle choices.