What you eat directly impacts your body, skin, and hair. If you think the only drawback of eating late at night is weight gain, think again. While snacking is suitable for a quick energy boost, it can be detrimental to your health – even damaging your skin – If done wrong. Late-night snacking can cause premature aging as well as discolored, acne-prone skin.
Late-Night Snacking Affects Your Skin as Per Studies
Skincare is an essential item on the list of skin dos and don’ts. To nourish the skin, you must have a good skincare routine. Refraining from eating late at night is one form of skincare.
A study published in the journal Cell Reports by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre found that eating late at night can affect your level of UV protection the following day. The research used a mice module. When exposed to UV rays, the mice fed at late hours had more significant skin damage.
The report indicated that if you maintain a typical meal pattern, you would be more protected against UV all day. Eating irregularly may create a detrimental change in your skin clock, as it did on the mouse. Although it is crucial to note that these tests were done on mice instead of humans, they still provide a plausible argument against late-night snacking.
Aside from UV light, it has been proven that eating before bed, especially something sweet, can raise blood sugar levels and cause inflammation, making skin problems like acne and eczema worse. A Baylor College of Medicine report links skin conditions to unhealthy snacking. The research states that meals with a high glycemic index induce blood glucose levels to rise and insulin levels to climb along with it.
While insulin is often tied with diabetes, it is also known to boost sebum production. Sebum is the whitish element of whiteheads, a common skin condition. Insulin is also related to androgen bioavailability and can boost adrenal androgen levels. Androgen is a hormone that is commonly associated with acne.
When your body tries to regulate an increase in blood sugar, it triggers acne and aging. Glycation levels will increase if you consume too much sugar. Excess glycation can lead to increased stiffness and decreased elasticity in your skin. Glycation is a result of a person’s diet. No amount of skincare supplements can alter it if you don’t stop your late-snacking routine.
Sleeping Time and Hydration
One of the issues with late-night snacking is that it transpires at night. And, like the rest of your body, your skin would prefer to sleep rather than chowed down after dark.
Your body rejuvenates itself by reducing inflammation while you sleep. The most visible indication of inflammation is fluid retention, which causes puffiness around the eyes and cheeks. When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin gets dull and pale, and your blood vessels weaken. This makes it hard for blood to flow to your eyes. A facial can help improve blood flow, but nothing beats an uninterrupted, good night’s sleep.
With the fluid retention brought by sneaking a snack late at night, you may wind up looking more tired and less friendly the next day.
On the other hand, hydration impacts the skin’s flexibility, resilience, and plumpness. Drinking water at the right moments can help you curb your food cravings when they arise. If you drink too much water in the early evening, you may feel hungry at bedtime. If you don’t drink enough water before bed, you may feel dehydrated when you wake up, and your skin may look dry and chapped.
Drinking enough water during the day and keeping a glass of water by your bedside table at night is a good compromise.
Get Into a Routine to Avoid Late-Night Cravings
Lack of a pre-bedtime routine, such as a skin regimen, may be reflected in impulsive eating. Many factors can trigger your late-night cravings, and some are valid, such as a bonding moment with your loved ones. But if your late-night snacking is having a noticeable effect on your looks, it suggests you’re also disregarding your overall health and well-being.
Spending a few minutes each night caring for your skin can help you relax before bed and leave you looking refreshed in the morning. Establishing a routine to help you unwind before bed can train your brain to focus on your pre-bedtime regimen rather than relying on snacking to get you to sleep.
Seek Professional Help
Don’t hesitate to seek professional treatment if you feel that your late-night snacking is affecting your health. Consulting with a cosmetic doctor is one way to fully understand skin do’s and don’ts.
Dr. Palmer can help you with your skincare issues if you’re from Fort Lauderdale or the nearby Florida area. Palmer Cosmetic Surgery offers a variety of advanced invasive and non-invasive procedures, focusing on patient care and support.