This could be the reason you're
repeatedly popping pimples.
We've all had acne at some point in our lives. However, some
people have a more severe case than others. And while hormonal changes and
medications appear to be the biggest culprits for flare-ups, diet may also play
a role.
Aside from acne breakouts, certain foods may even dehydrate our
skin or tamper with collagen. Below, we outline how four different carbs could
aggravate your skin.
1. Eating refined carbs can cause flare-ups.
Sugary foods such as donuts, cakes, candy, and other less-sugary
refined carbs like white bread may irritate your skin more than you think.
While the link between diet and acne is still debated, as cosmetic
dermatologist Dr. Michele Green recently told, a growing body of evidence
indicates the two are connected.
"People with acne consume more refined carbs than people who
don't have acne," she explained. "Foods rich in refined carbohydrates
include bread, crackers, cereal, pasta (all made with white flour), white rice,
noodles, sodas, sweetened beverages, cane sugar, maple syrup, and honey or
agave."
When you eat refined and processed carbs regularly, your blood
glucose (sugar) levels rise quickly, prompting the pancreas to release insulin,
which causes the body to generate more oil, leading to acne.
2. Drinking cow's milk could worsen acne.
Lactose, the naturally occurring sugar and main carbohydrate in
cow's milk may cause people to have a skin breakout. According to the USDA,
there are about 12 grams of carbs in an 8-ounce cup of 1% cow's milk. After
infancy, % of the world's population has a reduced ability to digest lactose,
which could be why your skin reacts poorly to dairy.
The beverage could also have the same impact on humans. Whey and
casein, the two main proteins in milk, boost growth hormones in calves. When
our bodies try to break down these proteins, a hormone called IGF-1 is
released, linked to skin flare-ups. Interestingly, skim milk appears to be the
biggest culprit for breakouts, according to a 2014 review in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
3. Drinking alcohol could dehydrate your skin.
Drinking too much alcohol, particularly beer (which has the most
carbs of any alcohol), can lead to many health problems over time. However, it
can also dry up your skin almost immediately. It may even cause your skin to
prematurely age, especially if you're routinely drinking alcohol and not
drinking enough water.
"Alcohol can speed up the aging process and cause changes to
skin's texture, especially in females if it is not consumed moderately. This is
because alcohol acts as a diuretic; it draws liquid from the body," Green
said.
"Less fluid can lead to dehydration and remove moisture from
the skin, contributing to dryness. This can make fine lines and wrinkles appear
more pronounced."
4. Candy could be damaging the collagen in your skin.
We all love a sweet treat now and then; however, if you find yourself reaching for a bag of Skittles or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups often, you could be damaging the collagen in your skin—aka, the protein that keeps your skin firm and may even promote elasticity and hydration. Protect your supple skin by avoiding the candy aisle! Foods that comprise white sugar contribute to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which form when protein or fat combines with sugar and ultimately damages collagen.