Dermatologist: These 3 Foods Cause Wrinkles Every. Single. Time.

Great skin and a carefree life don’t often go hand-in-hand. Many delicious foods are greasy and dehydrating, leaving skin wrinkled and spotty the next day. Make that kind of diet a habit, and your skin’s health will surely follow.

Occasionally indulging in a few treats is fine, as long as your diet is otherwise full of nutritious, whole foods. The best way to live healthier, have better skin, and still enjoy the delicious treats of life is to swap out those “very bad options” for something better, and then never look back.

“Dry, patchy skin and fine lines and wrinkles are mostly a result of sun damage, smoking, and loss of collagen from aging, but a poor diet can definitely contribute,” says Dr. Nadir Qazi, DO, a board-certified physician, cosmetic dermatology surgeon, and owner of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic.

“Conversely, a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients from fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes can improve the look of your skin, healing it from the inside out. Proper hydration with clean water intake is also important in proper skin care, along with sunscreen applied daily.”

These three junk foods cause dehydration and wrinkled skin

Food with a high glycemic index like white breads typically pack lots of calories but are very low in nutrients. They may taste great with a hamburger, but they are very bad for the body, skin, and the aging process, according to Dr. Qazi.

“Switching from white breads with a high glycemic index to ones lower in glucose can prevent your skin from reaping the consequences,” Dr. Qazi says. “Rye bread is a great alternative. Rye bread’s low glycemic index and added health benefits like calcium and iron can boost the skin’s overall health without overloading the body with glucose that can sag and wrinkle the skin.”

And in the same vein, super starchy carbs like white potatoes can also tilt the body’s chemistry in negative ways. Plus, most folks consume potatoes either fried in terrible vegetable oil, or whipped up with lots of salt, butter, and cream as mashed potatoes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with dairy, but it can cause skin issues for some, especially when paired with potatoes. And at this point, we shouldn’t have to explain why fried food from vegetable oil is a “hard no” — that stuff is just plain bad for your whole body, skin included.

The perfect alternative? Baked sweet potatoes. “Higher in Vitamins A, C, and E, sweet potatoes have added vitamins that can lessen the appearance of sagging and wrinkles on the skin,” Dr. Qazi says. “The only caveat: bake instead of fry or use your air fryer with very little oil. This can help limit the saturated fat in your diet and help maintain the proper function of skin cells.”

Changing gears from the high-glycemic carbs, the last food you’ll want to avoid for skin health is sugar-added yogurt products.

Real yogurt is perfectly healthy, yes; but many store-bought yogurts come with sugary fruit added, or sugary flavors like fake vanilla added. “Anything with added corn syrup and white or refined sugars are going to wreak havoc on the skin,” Dr. Qazi says. “Fruit-filled yogurts are laden in refined sugars and although touted as good for you, they’re actually doing more harm than good. Instead, try plain Greek yogurt and add in your own flavors, like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, or your own fresh fruit. For an icy cold dessert, stick it in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes and eat it like ice cream. Yum.”

Stick with the good stuff in life, your skin will thank you

So what’s a healthy skin seeker to do? Cut down on white carbs and reduce sugar whenever possible. In other words, the same advice we give regarding any real functionality of the body. That stuff isn’t good for anything besides a little dopamine hit while consuming it; afterwards, you’ll always have to deal with negative consequences.