Aging brings along wrinkles and fine lines as a natural part of life, but certain foods and beverages might accelerate this process. If you’re worried about early signs of aging, you might find valuable insights from skincare experts.
We spoke with doctors, dermatologists, and skin health specialists to uncover which four popular sugary, processed, and chemical-laden items are most detrimental to skin elasticity.
These consumables can contribute to fine lines, dark spots, and an overall dehydrated, sunken appearance. Additionally, they provided advice on four collagen-boosting foods to focus on this fall and winter to achieve a radiant, youthful glow from within.
4 Processed & Fried Foods That Lead To Dull Complexions And Faster Aging, Doctors Say
1. Full-Fat Butter & Margarine
Scientific research shows that foods "do in fact" affect our skin's oil production, Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology 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, skincare expert Dr. Adrienne O’Connell, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics, warns that excessive dairy 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!)
Robyn Newmark, skincare expert and founder and CEO of Newmark Beauty, concurs, and says that "margarine is one food you should avoid if you want to prevent wrinkles and dry skin." Margarine, she notes, 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."
2. Salty 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, she warns.
"Due to osmotic pressure, salt draws water out of cells, including skin cells, leading to dry skin," Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, founder of RenewMD and skin by Dr. Simran 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." Elevated sugar and salt intake "hardens skin proteins, making your skin weaker, thinner and less hydrated," Sethi warns.
3. White Bread
Refined carbs can be found in many popular processed foods, so it's easy to obtain many of them in your diet without noticing. Eating this type of food, Dr. Nadir Qazi, board-certified physician, cosmetic dermatology surgeon and owner of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic, 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. 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 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.
4 Healthier Whole Foods To Prioritize Instead For Glowing Skin
1. Egg Whites
Collagen and other amino acids that are good for the skin are found naturally in egg whites, Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, board-certified dermatologist and writer at My Psoriasis Team says, which also give you nutritious protein. "Collagen is the key component in preventing fine lines and wrinkles, and it is believed that this natural supply of collagen from egg whites can aid your body's natural collagen synthesis," she stresses.
When it comes to sagging skin, egg white collagen "increases suppleness, reduces wrinkles and crow's feet around the eyes, and on the face," she notes. As for how much of these to eat per day, Chacon says that "generally speaking, eating up to seven eggs a week" is great for your skin, and this "won't harm your heart health." Some of her patients "opt to consume egg whites alone, skipping the yolk," which still contains some protein, but no cholesterol.
2. Fatty Fish
When it comes to your skin, there are plenty of benefits offered from fatty fish, Kung says. "Fish is an excellent protein source, which supplies amino acids for our body to make collagen," she notes. Collagen, she reiterates, is the protein responsible for supple skin and its elasticity, and can be taken in supplement form daily while also found in many foods.
"Fish skin is a rich source of collagen, and salmon is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may enhance collagen formation," Kung points out.
3. Spinach
Spinach contains "calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, choline, folate, riboflavin, and vitamins A, C, E, K, B6," which Kung says are all vital regarding the appearance of your skin, hair and nails.
"Foods that contain vitamins A, C, E and carotenoids are wonderful for skin health and prevent skin aging because they are potent antioxidants," Kung adds.
She tells us that vitamins A, C, E and E prevent "discoloration and pigmentary changes that ages our appearance." Vitamin C in particular, she reiterates, is a "really important part" of collagen synthesis.
4. Pomegranates
Dr. Enrizza P. Factor, MD, dermatologist and writer at My Eczema Team, notes that you’ve probably heard the saying, "you are what you eat." When it comes to "how well your skin ages, this is especially true," she says. She adds that pomegranates are "high in anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties" that may "improve the skin’s elasticity and protect against skin damage and premature aging."
Eating just one pomegranate gives you about "28 mg of vitamin C," according to WebMD, which is almost "50 percent of your daily recommended intake." Adding more vitamin C to your diet through pomegranates can "be effective at preventing the onset of wrinkles," Factor continues.
She stresses that this eating this nutrient, along with "drinking plenty of water, protecting your skin from the sun, not smoking, and managing your stress" plays a key role when it comes to "keeping your skin healthy and youthful."
The Bottom Line
Wrinkles are unavoidable as we get older, but as dermatologists tell us, our diet and skincare regimen can reduce their prominence. It's important to embrace aging, but we can still prioritize looking and feeling good at any age.
Maintaining healthy skin can greatly improve our overall wellbeing. Experts suggest consuming nutrient-rich foods like avocados, tomatoes, egg whites, pomegranates, fatty fish and spinach, as they all promote collagen production for optimal skin health.
