These Inflammatory Processed Foods Are Making Fine Lines And Wrinkles So Much Worse, According To Health And Beauty Experts

July 11, 2025 by Lisa Cupido

Shutterstock

Ever notice how your skin sometimes looks a little dull, puffy, or just off after indulging in a weekend of chips, soda, and fast-food dinners? That’s not just in your head. Processed foods — those tasty but often nutrient-poor items that come in bags and bottles — can trigger inflammation in the body. And chronic inflammation can start showing up on your face in the form of breakouts, redness, puffiness, and even faster signs of aging like fine lines and sagging skin.

Your skin is basically a mirror reflecting what’s going on inside, and chronic inflammation is like holding up a neon sign that says, “Help!” While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional treat, regularly filling up on ultra-processed foods can mess with your gut, spike blood sugar, and disrupt the balance your skin needs to glow. These five processed foods are among the worst offenders when it comes to causing inflammation and making skin issues worse.

1. White Bread

White bread might be soft, delicious, and perfect for sandwiches, but it’s a sneak when it comes to skin health. Made from refined flour, white bread is quickly broken down into sugar in the body, causing blood sugar spikes that trigger inflammation. This surge can lead to increased production of insulin, which in turn can ramp up oil production in your skin and cause breakouts. Over time, the glycation process (where sugar molecules attach to collagen and elastin) can weaken skin’s firmness and elasticity, making fine lines and wrinkles more pronounced.

2. Soda

Sweet fizzy drinks may taste refreshing, but soda is basically liquid sugar — and sugar is one of the biggest causes of inflammation. Consuming too much soda can cause repeated blood sugar spikes, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the body. This kind of internal stress affects the skin by accelerating the aging process, breaking down collagen, and making skin appear dull and tired.

3. Bacon

Crispy, salty bacon might be a breakfast favorite, but it’s loaded with saturated fats, preservatives, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which can cause inflammation. These compounds can damage collagen and elastin—the proteins that keep your skin firm and smooth—leading to sagging and wrinkles over time.

4. Margarine

Once hyped as a healthier butter alternative, many types of margarine are actually packed with trans fats—one of the worst offenders when it comes to inflammation. Trans fats not only raise bad cholesterol but also increase markers of inflammation in the body, which can flare up skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea.

5. Fried Foods

French fries, fried chicken, and onion rings may hit the spot, but they’re troublemakers for your skin. Fried foods are often cooked in oils high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in excess, can promote inflammation. On top of that, the high-heat cooking process produces harmful compounds like AGEs, which attack collagen and elastin. This can result in premature aging, increased risk of breakouts, and skin that’s more likely to look tired and inflamed.

NEXT
Social Media Says Lauren Sánchez's 'Over-Filled' Lips 'Ruined' Her Face In New Photos From Fashion Week: 'She Was Pretty Before'

Tags:

anti-inflammatory foods skincare, Beauty, processed food to avoid, processed foods, processed foods skin

Tags: anti-inflammatory foods skincareBeautyprocessed food to avoidprocessed foodsprocessed foods skin

Load more...

Recommended