As the party season kicks off with indulgent dinners, flowing booze and endless sweet treats, experts are warning that your Christmas menu might be damaging your skin.
A medical aesthetician has warned that many of the foods we overindulge in at this time of year, including sugar-packed desserts like trifle and yule logs, fatty roast dinners, cheese boards and boozy tipples, can trigger breakouts, inflammation and stubborn acne.
Dr Gizem Seymenoglu, a medical aesthetician, explains how festive staples may be quietly sabotaging your skin at the worst possible time of year.
Sweet Treats
Christmas tables are overflowing with sugary temptations like puddings, mince pies, towering cakes and creamy trifles, and resisting them can feel almost impossible. It’s important, however, to exercise moderation, according to Dr Gizem.
“If you consume too many of these foods, you'll experience a spike in your blood sugar, which will lead to a rise in insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which stimulates the oil glands. Additionally, it can increase androgen activity. The result, unfortunately, is inflammation, clogged pores and more breakouts, especially whiteheads and blackheads, as well as inflammatory acne."
"Particularly those who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal acne, insulin-resistance or even acne-prone skin might be affected. So, these individuals need to be extra careful.”
In order to minimise their impact on your skin, Dr Gizem recommends enjoying smaller portions, pairing sweet treats with protein or healthy fats, and staying well hydrated to curb blood sugar spikes and inflammation. Keeping up with your regular skincare routine can also help prevent clogged pores and breakouts.
Alcohol
Another season favourite, alcohol can take a serious toll on your skin. According to Dr Gizem:
“Alcohol can trigger compensatory oil production by causing dehydration of the skin. It can also result in skin inflammation and cause redness since it dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow."
"Additionally, alcoholic beverages can affect your gut and liver function, both of which play a role in hormone metabolism. This can increase the levels of stress hormone (cortisol) in the body, worsening inflammation. Not surprisingly, the sugar in these drinks only ends up exacerbating these effects.”
Furthermore, alcohol can worsen existing skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and seborrheic dermatitis flares, according to the medical aesthetician.
“Over time, excessive drinking can also age your skin by causing dehydration and breaking down collagen.”
Dr Gizem suggests sipping water between drinks and not overdoing it to keep your skin looking its best.
Fatty, Greasy Foods
One of the most enjoyable parts of the Christmas feast is the rich, fatty food that fills the table, from roast turkey and pigs in blankets to sausages.
However, Dr Gizem warns that foods high in saturated fats increase inflammation and can clog the pores due to increased sebum production.
“If you want to enjoy some healthy, fatty foods this Christmas, try salmon, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for your skin. Nuts and dark chocolate also make for skin-friendly festive snacks that won’t leave you breaking out.”
Dairy
As for dairy, like cheese boards, clotted cream, brandy butter, eggnog, Dr Gizem says:
“Dairy contains natural hormones and IGF-1, which stimulates insulin and androgen production. This can increase sebum production, making the skin oilier and resulting in clogged pores."
"Dairy often worsens hormonal acne, and whey and skim dairy are especially acne-provoking. This can leave you with more bumps along the chin, jawline and the lower half of your face.”
Dr Gizem recommends skin-friendly swaps such as plant-based milks, nut-based creams, or dairy-free desserts to satisfy cravings without triggering excess oil and breakouts.
