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FEATURE
Q&A with Sarah Cenac Jackson, M.D.
So howmany of us were told by our parents that if we ate potato chips, or greasy
foods, or pizza and chocolate, we would get pimples. We spoke to Dr. Sarah
Cenac Jackson to get her insights on food and skin.Here, Jackson dispels some of
the biggest myths of skin care. Hint: Potato chips do not cause acne.
How does what you eat affect your skin?
Most doctors would agree that a healthy diet and staying hydrated
is good for your entire body, and therefore good for your skin.There
is some compelling research suggesting you should avoid processed
sugar,enriched grains,and other high glycemic simple carbohydrates,
which may worsen acne. For your overall health, you should eat a
diet high in omegas, such as fish and flaxseed oil, and antioxidants,
such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B, zinc, selenium, which all
promote healthy immune function. Other antioxidants like fennel
and allicin (from garlic) are natural antiseptics, which can help acne
patients fight bacteria.
What can teenagers and their parents do about acne?
Heightened hormone levels and oil production often trigger
acne in teens. Teens require expert skin care to understand their
unique issues. We generally recommend a visit to a board-certified
dermatologist to evaluate their skin and create an action plan. A
general at-home skin care regimen should include washing their
face twice a day and applying an oil-free sunscreen. Sunscreen
seems silly, but the right one will not cause breakouts and will help
reduce scarring and pigmentation problems. There are also some
over-the-counter treatments like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide
that can help destroy bacteria and clean out pores. Parents’ biggest
mistake is waiting too long to call the doctor.
Is there any evidence that specific foods make
eczema symptoms flare?
Various foods have been linked to eczema flairs.
If your child has eaten certain foods and it
flared their eczema, they should avoid that
food. Some common foods that can trigger
eczema symptoms include cow’s milk, eggs,
soy, wheat, fish, and nuts. However, eczema
is usually more influenced by substances
you come into contact with and less what
you consume. Common triggers are animal
dander and saliva (when a pet licks you),
scratchy clothes (such as wool), sweating a lot, soaps,
household cleaning products, fruit juices, dust, a cough,
cold or the flu.
Can you eat your way to younger looking skin?
I think everyone over the age of 35 wants this
answer.
I wish! Common wrinkles of the face and neck are
the result of these habitual contractions. That is why
botox is so popular — it stops that habitual contraction,
and therefore the wrinkling. Eating healthier is a
common recommendation for people looking to
reduce their risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and
other medical concerns. Diets high in vitamin C and
linoleic acid (which is found in certain types of oils) and low in
fat and carbohydrates are associated with fewer wrinkles and less
age-related dryness and skin thinning. Reducing sugar intake
may protect elastin and collagen molecules in the skin. Research
has shown that a diet high in sugar can damage these molecules,
leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
A new growing body of research is evaluating whether certain
dietary changes can impact the skin by reducing the signs of aging
and improving some skin conditions. Nutricosmetics — the use of
nutrition or nutritional supplements for skin health and beauty —
is popular abroad and may be the next frontier for improving skin
health and beauty in the United States. We do know that wearing
sunscreen every single day is the number one way to prevent the
signs of aging!
How does water affect your skin?
Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for overall
good health because water aids in digestion, circulation, absorption
and even excretion. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount
of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin
dry, tight or flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to
wrinkling.
As water is lost every day, you need to replace it somehow. The
unfortunate truth about water and skin is that water will reach all
the other organs before it reaches the skin. So it’s important to
apply water to our skin — this will not only show a visible difference
in hydration, but it can prevent wrinkles, as well.
Apply a hydrating moisturizer within 2 minutes of
leaving the bath or shower. The skin is still
porous and is vulnerable to products that
are applied following the bath or
shower, allowing better absorption.
Apply a product containing
hyaluronic acid prior to your
moisturizer. It will attract
water to the skin and
hold it there.
Eat Right
with Rouses
THE GLYCEMIC INDEX
“Researchers use a glycemic index to measure how much a carbohydrate-
containing food raises your blood sugars, or glucose levels. Each food is given a
value based on how fast or how slow the food raises your blood glucose levels. In
addition to the glycemic index, the glycemic load allows you to know how quickly
the food makes glucose enter the blood stream and how much glucose it will
deliver, providing a more accurate measurement. Per Harvard Medical School,
the glycemic load is determined by multiplying the grams of a carbohydrate in a
serving by the glycemic index, then dividing by 100. A glycemic load of 10 or below
is considered low; 20 or above is considered high.”
—Esther, Rouses Dietitian