Sugar is not sugary anymore. Apart from contributing to your inches all over, it is suspected to speed-up the process of wrinkling.

And this is being stated by the world-famous dermatologist Dr Fredric Brandt, also known as the The Baron of Botox, a very unlikely author to say so.. In his new book he explains why sugar is not good for the skin; “Sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins and finally actively ages you. The sugar triggers a process in the body called glycation, whereby, the sugar molecules bind to protein fibres (which are springy and resilient) collagen and elastin fibres (which are the building blocks of skin). Collagen has been compared to as skin’s mattress and the elastin fibres as the coils holding it together. The sugar attacks these fibres, making them less elastic and more brittle so they break. As a result the youthful skin starts to sag and look old.”

More worse, “the glycation process causes these proteins to mutate, creating harmful new molecules called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), which accumulate and cause further inflammation and damage to collagen and elastin. In a normal, healthy collagen and elastin, the skin will snap back to its original position, but if the collagen and elastin have been made brittle by glycation and so is prone to breaking, the skin can’t snap back, and then the fine lines and wrinkles appear – and don’t go away. “
So, before you put those treats into your mouth, think again, for your skin’s sake.

Read the full article here: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/lifestyle/2007-06/11/content_891416_2.htm