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Healthy Skin and Holiday Eating

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Healthy Skin and Holiday Eating Blog Image

The holidays are swiftly approaching, and that means you’ll soon be bombarded by Christmas music, visiting family members, and of course, the scrumptious feasts that the season is known for. Winter is notorious for weight gain and skin issues, because of the cold weather that makes us want to stay indoors, skip exercise, and load up on delicious comfort food.

Unfortunately, this can leave you with a variety of issues as you head into spring, from problems with skin health to unwanted weight gain. You might be surprised to learn that your diet can make your skin dry and dull, or even lead to breakouts. Which foods are likely to be problematic, and what can you do to correct winter issues? 

Best and Worst Food for Your Skin

Our bodies are pretty ingenious pieces of machinery, designed to take the fuel we put in and break it down so that nutrients keep us healthy and strong. Unfortunately, consuming bad food is similar to choosing the wrong octane of gas for your car – your body just won’t run as well.

When it comes to the quality of your skin, holiday foods full of sugar and fat simply aren’t the best choice. Foods with a high glycemic index (we’re looking at you, sugar) are known to cause inflammation throughout the body, aggravating existing skin conditions like eczema or acne, especially when paired with cold, dry winter conditions.

Sugar and other simple carbohydrates (which quickly convert to sugar in the body) can also weaken immune function, reducing your ability to fight infections and free-radicals that lead to premature aging. The end result? Acne and eczema flare-ups and increased signs of aging like dryness, dullness, and wrinkles.

If you want to avoid this, you’re going to have to steer clear of holiday carb-loading and sweets, especially alcoholic beverages like eggnog that are filled with sugar. Opt instead for low-glycemic alternatives, such as whole grains, beans, and nuts, plus anti-inflammatory additives like healthy fats, lean meats, veggies, and fruits containing antioxidants (like berries, if you can get them).

If you just can’t say no to the sweet treats of the holiday season, don’t fret. You can always correct damage after the fact with facial treatments like chemical peels, microneedling, and laser resurfacing to exfoliate, stimulate collagen production, and minimize wrinkles, blemishes, and other imperfections.

What About Weight Gain?

It’s not unusual to pack on unwanted pounds with the holiday marathon of eating. Hey, we’ve all been there. If you’re the motivated sort, you can jump on the treadmill and resume dieting following the New Year.

That said, as the years go by, you may find you have more and more trouble shedding holiday weight. The good news is, late winter is an ideal time to consider procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck that will heal just in time for summer swimsuit season.

If you need a little pick-me-up after the holidays wreak havoc on your skin and your midsection, contact Dr. Beverly Fischer and the team at the Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery, online or at 410-308-4700, to learn more and request a consultation.

 

Dr. Beverly Fischer

Dr. Beverly A. Fischer, a leading female surgeon with over 20 years' experience, believes plastic surgery makes a profound difference in people’s lives.