Eating sugar causes acne and other more alarming effects. By the end of this Amaka’s note, you’ll know what sugar does to your body, and how to avoid it.

The Gist

Eating sugar alone does not cause acne.

It’s actually a bunch of unhealthy foods called “glycemic foods,” which include sugar and other sugar-rich foods. Eating these foods causes a bunch of chemical reactions that lead to acne, and much much more. Reducing the amount of glycemic foods that you intake will not only improve your skin, but your overall health as well.

The Science

How eating sugar causes acne

Sugar has oxidative properties that can influence acne and breakouts. 

Sugar is a type of food that is high on the glycemic index, which means that once it is eaten, it is quickly converted into glucose, causing your insulin levels to rise. Eating foods high on this index, such as food rich in sugar and saturated fats, cause inflammation throughout your body. These sharp increases in insulin promotes oil production on your skin, which leads to clogged follicles. These, in turn, worsens your complexion, and worse, causes acne.

This happens because your body breaks down simple carbohydrates rather easily, which is quickly converted into glucose, flooding the bloodstream. This causes spikes in insulin, which cause enzymes that cause inflammation to attach to your collagen, an oxidative process called glycation.

Glycation is a process that breaks down collagen and another material called elastin. This process contributes to making your skin look older, saggier, and wrinklier. Apart from making your skin age faster, it also provokes other skin conditions, like acne. Apart from your skin, glycation also affects internal collagen sites, such as your joints. When your diet is full of sugar, your body is more likely to develop insulin resistance (prediabetes), which means it eventually leads to, well, diabetes (type 2 diabetes). 

Learning more about foods found on the high end of the glycemic index scale will help you develop a healthier diet, and more than that, improve your skin. You should avoid foods on the high end of this scale as much as possible

Insulin resistance also has other alarming effects, such as hirsutism, or excessive hair growth. It also leads to dark skin patches, and, you guessed it, acne. 

To bring your insulin levels down, your body produces androgen hormones, which actually make your acne worse. When this happens too often, your body builds insulin resistance, which means you need more insulin, which means you need more androgen hormones. In short, too much sugar causes acne and much much more!

The good news

Eating less sugar does cause less acne, and makes you healthier in general.

Who knew? Eating healthier foods rich in vitamins and minerals will allow you to be healthier inside and out. On top of healthy eating, topical solutions and supplements make your skin even more healthier. 

So, eat less bad food and more good food; you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll look and feel better.

The Takeaway

Eating sugar and other high-glycemic foods increases inflammation, which causes acne and a lot more. To avoid this, just eat less of it, and live healthier in general; make smarter choices. Choose food that is low on the glycemic index, like fruits, vegetables, high-quality protein, and good fats.