A leading dermatologist has warned that certain foods can accelerate skin ageing, and shared the most common skincare mistakes people make in their 30s. Dr Sophie Shotter, an award-winning aesthetic doctor with over a decade of experience, revealed her top anti-ageing tips on TikTok.
Dr Shotter emphasised that sugar is a major culprit in skin ageing, alongside smoking. 'You may have gotten away with it when you were younger, but you will find that this causes cumulative injury, especially around glycation,' she said. Glycation, triggered by sugars like glucose or fructose, leads to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dullness, and decreased skin function.
Her number one tip is daily sunscreen use. 'You may not think you're seeing the damage the sun has done to your skin yet, but believe me you will. We cause this cumulative damage in our younger years that catches up with us from our 40s onwards,' she explained. She also stressed the importance of a consistent skincare routine, including nightly cleansing to remove the day's grime.
Nutritionist Kate Booker from Nutrition Geeks added that zinc-rich foods, such as oysters, red meat, and sesame seeds, are 'amazing for skin renewal'. Other recommended foods include sweet potatoes, oily fish, berries, and bone broth, which is high in collagen.
