As we age, it’s a natural part of life, but there are certain foods and drinks that can expedite the process. For those concerned with wrinkles and fine lines being emphasized in their forties and fifties, skincare experts recommend paying attention. After consulting with dermatologists and medical professionals, we learned more about consuming items high in salt and chemicals, and how this can negatively impact skin elasticity, leading to dark spots, fine lines, and an overall lack of hydration, resulting in a sunken appearance.
Read on for tips and insight from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, founder of Future Bright Dermatology, skincare expert Dr. Adrienne O’Connell, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics, Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, founder of RenewMD and skin by Dr. Simran Sethi.
Regarding healthier foods and drinks to prioritize for supple skin at any age, we also checked in with Dr. Enrizza P. Factor, MD, dermatologist and writer at My Eczema Team, Dr. Nadir Qazi, DO, board-certified physician, cosmetic dermatology surgeon, and owner of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic and Robyn Newmark, skincare expert and founder and CEO of Newmark Beauty.
8 Processed Salty Foods That Lead To Dull Complexions And Faster Aging, Doctors Say
1. Potato Chips
Hydrating and moisturizing your skin is needed for a healthy complexion, and to age gracefully. With extremely high salt levels, potato chips are not beneficial in aiding the hydration of the skin. Eating them every day or in excess can cause wrinkles, cracks, and peeling, Sethi warns.
"Due to osmotic pressure, salt draws water out of cells, including skin cells, leading to dry skin," Sethi explains. "Potato chips are notoriously high in salt and also contain a sizable amount of sugar," she adds.
When there is an excess of salt and glucose in the body, Sethi continues, it cross-links with collagen and elastin, "proteins that give our skin its firmness and elasticity."
2. Margarine
Newmark also notes that "margarine is one food you should avoid if you want to prevent wrinkles and dry skin." Margarine also contains salt, and she warns that it is "frequently made with partially hydrogenated oils, one of the most prevalent trans fats." While trans fats "contribute to heart disease," she also warns that they may also accelerate the skin's aging process.
"Trans-fatty acids make the skin more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, which can cause damage to the elastin and collagen in the skin," she goes on. Additionally, she says that "margarine can cause chronic inflammation, speeding up the formation of wrinkles."
3. Salted Butter
Scientific research shows that foods "do in fact" affect our skin's oil production, Kung says. "Dairy, milk products and whey protein" in particular, she notes, "increase IGF-1, which will cause oilier skin."
While consuming enough vitamin D and calcium every day is essential for your overall health, O'Connell warns that excessive dairy like full-fat butter can cause an even oilier and greasy-looking complexion. (And this does not mean hydrated skin, by the way, just more oil that can later clog pores and cause acne!)
4. White Bread
Refined carbs can be found in many popular processed foods like white bread, so it's easy to obtain many of them in your diet without noticing. Eating this type of food, Qazi explains, can "stimulate sebum production."
Sebum is the "oily, waxy substance your skin naturally produces to moisturize and protect your skin," he notes. Too much sebum can "cause the skin to look oily, make your pores look more prominent, and even trap dead skin inside your pores, leading to acne and blackheads," he adds.
5. Pretzels
Highly refined carbohydrates, like those found in pastries and white bread, are "too easy for our bodies to digest, creating a chain reaction like dominos," Qazi says.
When refined carbs like those often found in pretzels are digested, "they cause significant insulin spikes." He says that the spikes cause our bodies to release androgens and produce more oily skin and wrinkles.
6. Red Meat
Kung shares that saturated and trans fats found in "red meat" can increase inflammation in the skin, "which stimulates oil production."
Habitual intake of processed, salty red meats can exacerbate acne, hasten skin aging, and ignite bodily and cutaneous inflammation, exacerbating any existing inflammatory conditions.
7. French Fries
These ultra-processed and greasy foods, O'Connell stresses, should be limited and skipped whenever possible if you frequently experience acne-prone or dull skin. Oily, greasy and salty fries can "send oil production into overdrive," she explains.
Kung adds that foods that are "high glycemic index or glycemic load" like fries can "increase free androgens and insulin growth factor 1." This in turn, she notes will increase sebum production and allow for greasier skin.
8. Onion Rings
Just like with potato chips and fries, eating foods with elevated salt intake like onion rings can "harden skin proteins, making your skin weaker, thinner and less hydrated," Sethi says. Dehydrated skin leans to faster wrinkling, fine lines and a dull look.
The Bottom Line
While having potato chips, butter, margarine, white bread or other refined carbs and sugary drinks once in a while is fine, Sethi and Factor note that eating them (or foods like them) every day or multiple times a week without drinking enough water can wreck havoc on your complexion.
Instead of foods with salt, Sethi suggests trying to "season 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."
She also points out that "drinking at least 10 glasses of water (8 oz each) and of course, limiting consumption of such foods to once a week or less is the best way to achieve healthier looking skin."
Healthier Foods & Drinks To Prioritize For Supple Skin
To follow a healthy diet that will "optimize skin health," Factor says "you should consume foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. "The following foods all contribute to healthy, supple and hydrated skin, Factor says: "whole grains like wheat bread, brown rice, barley, millet, oatmeal and quinoa, beans." In addition, she lists: "legumes like black beans, navy beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas and lentils."
Factor concludes that vitamin C sources like "strawberries, red peppers, and grapefruit" are all no-fail snack choices if you want to prioritize your skin health, as well as leafy greens like "spinach and kale." These foods, she notes, are "rich in vitamin A, which is an antioxidant and nutrient that promotes healthy skin cell turnover." Good to know!
