Processed foods are often convenient and tasty, but they can have serious implications for skin health, especially as you age. For women over 40, certain processed foods can accelerate the formation of wrinkles and contribute to premature aging. Packed with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives, these foods can promote inflammation, damage collagen, and reduce skin elasticity.
We checked in with skin and health experts to discover two foods you should avoid after 40 because they can speed up aging, form wrinkles, and damage skin elasticity. They revealed that full-fat butter/margarine and white bread are the ones to steer clear of. Read on to get all their insights!
1. Full-Fat Butter & Margarine
Scientific research shows that foods "do in fact" affect our skin's oil production, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, 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 greasier-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, 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. 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, DO, 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.
The Bottom Line
While having butter, margarine, or white bread once in a while is fine, our experts note that eating them (or foods like them) every day or multiple times a week without drinking enough water can wreak 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."
