Does Sugar Age Your Skin?
Does sugar age your skin?
A plausible mechanism, but no trial we found tests the effect
Unclear. The mechanism is well described: sugars can cross-link collagen and make it harder to repair, and sun speeds this up. A US survey linked higher fat and carbohydrate intake to more wrinkled skin, but we did not find a trial showing that eating less sugar changes visible ageing.
The mechanism
A review describes how glucose and fructose link to amino acids in the collagen and elastin that support the dermis, forming advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. This cross-linking makes collagen fibres harder to repair and is further stimulated by ultraviolet light in skin. This is a description of mechanism, not a test in people.
What people report eating
In a US survey of 4,025 women aged 40 to 74, higher intakes of fats and carbohydrates were associated with a more wrinkled appearance and with skin atrophy, while higher vitamin C and linoleic acid were associated with better skin-ageing appearance. The survey is cross-sectional, so it cannot show cause.
What is solid
We did not find a randomised trial showing that eating less sugar changes visible ageing. What is supported by trials is daily sun protection, which our sun habits page covers. For acne, sugar has been studied more directly.
Questions people ask
Advanced glycation end products form when sugars attach to proteins such as collagen. Ultraviolet light speeds the process in skin, according to the review on this page.
Research
Selected studies and reviews on does sugar age your skin?. Each link opens the abstract on PubMed. This is background reading, not a substitute for advice from a dermatologist.
- Nutrition and aging skin: sugar and glycation.Danby FW Clin Dermatol, 2010 · PMID 20620757Note: Review of sugar and glycation.
- Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women.Cosgrove MC et al. Am J Clin Nutr, 2007 · PMID 17921406Note: Cross-sectional survey, 4,025 women.
- Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial.Hughes MC et al. Ann Intern Med, 2013 · PMID 23732711Note: 4.5-year randomised trial.
General information, not dietary or medical advice. These guides describe what studies found and how strong the evidence is. Talk to a doctor or dietitian if you have a condition, are pregnant or are changing your diet or supplements.