Sugar is one of the most detrimental allergens. Through ingestion, we know that sugar can result to diabetes and in milder cases, fatigue, headaches & depression. So much of food contains refined (white dyed sugar) and unrefined (brown demerara) so the challenge of cutting them of our your diet can be extremely frustrating, especially as psychologically, the brain craves sugar as a means of mental stimulation and instant endorphin gratification.
Skin symptoms (itching, urticaria (Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin), angioedema (swelling beneath the skin rather than on the surface)) are the most common, and occur during most food reactions. Other symptoms can include nasal (sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose and eyes), gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea), lung (shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness), and vascular (low blood pressure, light-headedness, rapid heart beat) symptoms. When severe, this reaction is called anaphylaxis, and can be life threatening.
The best way to think of the affects of sugar is to open your mouth and examine your own teeth. Sugar is known for decaying & destroying teeth, gums & tongue by creating holes in our pearly whites, which we go & have route canals or fillings for, spending thousands throughout our life time on whitening toothpaste or fancy tooth brushes to sort out the damage. Imagine the same damaging process when applied to your skin. stripping the skin by its natural alcohol which creates lines & wrinkles, premature aging begins.
Sugars in skincare appear in the form of what I call the GL family (you’ll spot them because they start usually with Gl):
– Glycerin or Glycerol : a by product of beef tallow or soy bean. Used mainly as a humectant (a lubricant) & a sweetener in food & skincare and a preservative for botanical skincare.
– monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides (HOCH2CHOHCH2OH) are the three esters ( strands) of sugar which create a clear odorless liquid alcohol consistency.
When in contact with the skin, it can encourage the skin to itch. if you experience this with any of your skincare products, check the label for any ingredients beginning with GL, this is a clear indicator of a sugar component.
Skin Care products to be mindful of:
– Soaps
– men’s shaving creams
– hair shampoos
– exfoliators, scrubs
Other names used to disguise sugar in skincare:
ether, ethyl acetate, and dioxane, , glycero+, glyceride, glycerol channel, glycerol kinase, glycerol phosphate, hydrophilic hydroxyl, lipids
So, if your skin feels itchy or tingly, monitor your sugar intake. Look at your products are search for sugar GL names on the labels, if the symptoms continue, discard your current skincare and reduce the sugary foods in your diet.
Written by me, Clare Chiedozie Anyiam-Osigwe, D.Sc B.E.M
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