We all know that acne is caused by things we face in our lives everyday.
Sweat, dirty pillowcases, and rogue hair product are just a few of the culprits of random breakouts.
And wrinkles, of course, are an inevitable side effect of aging.
But it's not only what touches our skin on the outside that can cause it to flare up.
In fact, the food you put inside your body is just as important.
If you have an expert skincare regimen but your skin still isn't top-notch, you could
be consuming all the wrong things.
Here are a few of the surprising foods that can wreak havoc on your complexion.
Dairy can clog your pores
If you can't live without that glass of chocolate milk every morning, or if cheese is your favorite
food group, we've got some bad news: all that dairy could be the cause of your breakouts.
Curology founder Dr. David Lortscher explained,
"Dairy products contain certain hormonal components that can stimulate oil production.
The more oil your body produces, the more likely it is to clog your pores, which leads
to breakouts."
Surprisingly, the worst dairy culprit is skim milk.
"There's only one thing I hate more than lying.
Skim milk.
Which is water that's lying about being milk."
Salt might make your skin puffy
While salt might not directly cause acne, it does lead to other unfavorable outcomes
for your face — namely, puffy, inflamed skin.
Dermatologist Margaret Ravits told us, that salt can cause some people to retain water
and appear puffy.
Definitely not a great look — unless you're planning on hosting a creepy kids show in
the '70s…
"H.R. Pufnstuf.
Who's your friend when things get rough.
H.R. Pufnstuf, can't do a little 'cause he can't do enough."
If you just can't give up salt completely, no worries!
Dermatologist Whitney Bowe suggests adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet to "keep
your skin hydrated and toned."
So pour out that salt shaker and treat yourself to some omega-3-filled salmon.
Your face will thank you.
Refined carbs are risky
Why is it that the tastiest foods are always the worst for you?
Like carbs, for example.
Yep, we're talking about pasta, white bread, potatoes… the good stuff.
According to Dr. David Lortscher, there are good carbs and then there are bad carbs.
"Is Butter a carb?"
"Yes"
It's these bad carbs, foods that are high on the glycemic index, or GI, that you want
to avoid as much as possible.
Lortscher explained,
"High GI foods increase blood glucose levels, forcing our bodies to produce insulin to absorb
the extra glucose."
Higher insulin means inflammation, which may trigger acne.
Lortscher also notes that avoiding bad carbs might also help you lose weight by restricting
the calories you take in, which in turn can reduce acne breakouts.
Potato chips can age you
While chips are definitely tasty, they're a double whammy when it comes to being bad
for your skin.
Most chips are covered in tons of salt, which we know is a major factor in skin inflammation.
They're made from potatoes, which means they also fall into the refined carb category and
are likely to make you break out.
This means that bag of chips is just a skin disaster waiting to happen.
Sugar makes you look older
It's no secret that sugary foods aren't good for our waistlines, but it turns out that
sugar also wreaks havoc on our skin, according to Dr. Debra Jaliman, dermatologist, author,
and creator of Sea Radiance Skincare.
According to her, foods that are high in sugar end up glycating the collagen in your skin,
which can stiffen and age your face.
So when you're debating whether or not to go for that extra donut, think about all the
bad stuff that comes with it.
"Oh my god!
Did you see that leopard print jeggings?"
"EEEEEK"
"Oh!"
If you're looking for a healthy sugar kick, try going for fruits that contain natural
sugars and the added bonus of antioxidants that help fight signs of aging.
Butter brings on the wrinkles
While studies have shown that eating butter isn't going to kill you, one thing is for
sure: butter is a dairy product, and we've learned how dairy negatively impacts your
skin by causing excess oil production.
But not only does butter have acne-causing properties, it also puts you at risk for wrinkles.
In a 2001 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, those with a higher
intake of butter and other dairy products experienced more skin wrinkling than those
who consumed healthier food options like vegetables and olive oil.
So the next time you're cooking up a healthy dish at home, opt for olive oil instead of
a stick of butter.
Shellfish can cause acne
At first glance, protein-packed shellfish might seem like a healthy option.
However, as dermatologist Neal B. Schultz told Shape, shellfish is, quote, "naturally
high in iodine, and a diet with too much of this element can lead to acne."
And according to Judith Brown, author of Every Woman's Guide to Nutrition,
"High iodine levels can inflame your skin, clog your pores, and cause the appearance
of red splotchy skin."
But the good news is that you don't have to avoid shellfish completely.
According to Dr. Schultz, you'll be fine as long as you indulge in crabs, shrimp, lobster,
and the rest only a few times a month, rather than several times a week.
Red meat has pros and cons
Like shellfish, red meat seems innocent enough...on the surface.
While it's full of the protein your body needs to survive, it can also cause acne and lead
to premature aging.
In an interview with StyleCaster, Dr. Mitchell Chasin explained,
"Red meat contains a high level of carnitine which can harden blood vessel walls, causing
premature aging."
Red meat has also been linked to increased levels of testosterone in the body, which
can increase sebum.
And when your body makes too much of this oil, "follicles become clogged and pimples
can emerge."
Alcohol will leave your skin suffering
If you like to cut loose on the weekends and tip a few back, you might be damaging your
skin more than you know.
Dr. Eric Meinhardt told us that alcohol causes dehydration — a fact anyone who's woken
up after a few drinks too many knows all too well.
While it may seem like your mouth and throat are the only things that need water after
a long night out, your skin is also suffering.
Meinhardt explained that as your skin dries out, you're more prone to wrinkling, dryness,
and flaking.
And the free radicals created by the alcohol lead to collagen damage, leading to wrinkles
and less vibrant skin.
So go easy on the alcohol, and keep your skin intact.
Not to mention your reputation.
"We're going streaking!"
What can you eat?
So now that we've covered everything that has a negative impact on your skin, you're
probably thinking, "Well, what can I eat?"
When you're looking for foods that are good for your skin, Dr. Jaliman notes that any
fresh food that is "richly colored" is your best bet.
She explained,
"These are highest in antioxidants.
So for example, choose a red grapefruit over a white grapefruit, a red pepper over a yellow
pepper."
Luckily, keeping a good skin care regimen can help prevent many adverse effects from
these foods, so you don't have to totally give up your favorite guilty pleasures for
the sake of smooth, clear skin.
But hey, every healthy decision helps just a little more.
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