Although many of us are saying goodbye to harsh winds that cause and contribute to dry skin, this doesn’t mean that flaky patches and redness will completely be cured— and leave— along with colder weather.
In order to ensure that you are preventing dry skin this spring, it’s crucial to have a consistent, hydrating skincare routine, doctors say, along with a diet that promotes a more supple, radiant and glowing complexion.
We reached out to a doctor and skincare expert for two types of processed foods that dehydrate the skin the most, and what to eat instead. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, founder of RenewMD and skin by Dr. Simran Sethi.
READ MORE: The Unexpected Side Effects Of Dehydration On The Skin, According To Dermatologists
Processed Foods To Avoid To Prevent Dry, Dehydrated Skin:
1. Sweet Treats Made With Refined Sugars
It is likely, Sethi says, that your favorite sweet treats are drying your skin out the most, especially if they’re eaten in excess. Refined sugar often derives from cane, sugar beets, and corn (which are all heavily processed to isolate the sugar). You might know it by its other names, such as sucrose, glucose and high-fructose corn syrup.
Excess refined sugar consumption, Sethi says, causes intrinsic damage to collagen and elastin proteins in skin by the formation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). "This reduces the integrity and elasticity of skin, making it prone to dehydration and wrinkling," she explains.
When you’re craving something sweet, she notes that "alternatively, fruits can satisfy a sweet tooth and also hydrate the skin due to their high water content." Even if you've heard this advice before, she stresses, it's worth repeating and truly considering for glowing, brighter skin this spring.
2. Salty Snacks
Whether you love packaged pretzels, bagged potato chips or frozen french fries, many of these snacks have super high salt content which Sethi notes won’t help hydrate your skin (and this can contribute to that awful cracking and peeling).
"Due to osmotic pressure, salt draws water out of cells, including skin cells, leading to dry skin,” says Sethi. Instead of salt, she suggests to try "seasoning foods with lemon, black or red pepper and dried herbs." Sethi adds that "over time, the body will stop craving higher levels of salt while remaining more hydrated." Noted!
