Understanding Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells no longer respond efficiently to insulin, the hormone that moves glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for energy. When this process falters, blood sugar remains elevated, resulting in hyperglycaemia and a chain reaction of inflammation, oxidative stress, and glycation.
For skincare professionals, insulin resistance is not just a metabolic concern; it’s a dermatological one. The skin often reflects internal metabolic imbalance, and understanding this connection can transform how practitioners approach chronic skin conditions and premature ageing.
For skincare professionals, insulin resistance is not just a metabolic concern; it’s a dermatological one. The skin often reflects internal metabolic imbalance, and understanding this connection can transform how practitioners approach chronic skin conditions and premature ageing.
...a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet containing approximately 10% fat outperformed a conventional diabetes diet based on the 2003 American Diabetes Association guidelines.
Rosacea: The Inflammatory Link
Research shows that people with rosacea exhibit an over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-8, and TNF-α, all of which are closely associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The rate of insulin resistance among rosacea patients is significantly higher than in control groups, suggesting that metabolic inflammation is a key underlying factor.
By addressing insulin resistance through dietary and lifestyle changes, practitioners can help reduce systemic inflammation and improve rosacea outcomes from within.
By addressing insulin resistance through dietary and lifestyle changes, practitioners can help reduce systemic inflammation and improve rosacea outcomes from within.
Psoriasis: Adipose Imbalance and Chronic Inflammation
Being overweight or obese is a well-known risk factor for psoriasis, largely due to the role of adipocytokines, signalling molecules secreted by fat tissue. In both psoriasis and insulin resistance, the balance of leptin and adiponectin (the hormones that regulate insulin sensitivity) is disrupted.
Inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1β drive the rapid production of keratinocytes. Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha leads to decreased Keratinocyte apoptosis and cell cycling, which causes hyperproliferation of the epidermis.
Inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1β drive the rapid production of keratinocytes. Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha leads to decreased Keratinocyte apoptosis and cell cycling, which causes hyperproliferation of the epidermis.
In postmenopausal women, higher baseline HOMA-IR levels were significantly associated with higher incidence of psoriasis over 21-year cumulative follow-up
Acne and Insulin Resistance
Acne patients regularly have high blood glucose levels, high insulin levels and insulin resistance. Hyperglycaemia activates the IGF-1/mTORC1 pathway, which leads to excess sebum production and overgrowth of keratinocytes, which block the hair follicles, both of which are hallmarks of Acne formation.
Skin Tags: A Visible Marker of Insulin Dysfunction
Skin tags are often considered harmless, but they may serve as an early diagnostic sign of insulin resistance. They commonly appear after age 40, particularly in women, and are strongly linked with obesity and metabolic imbalance.
The proposed mechanism involves elevated IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) resulting from hyperglycaemia. IGF-1 binds to receptors in keratinocytes, triggering overgrowth in the epidermis that manifests as skin tags. Recognising this link allows practitioners to identify and address systemic insulin issues before more serious metabolic complications develop.
The proposed mechanism involves elevated IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) resulting from hyperglycaemia. IGF-1 binds to receptors in keratinocytes, triggering overgrowth in the epidermis that manifests as skin tags. Recognising this link allows practitioners to identify and address systemic insulin issues before more serious metabolic complications develop.
Skin Ageing: The Metabolic Accelerator
Insulin resistance accelerates biological ageing through several mechanisms.
It also drives to collagen and elastin fibres, forming Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs).
AGEs stiffen collagen, impair elasticity, and trigger pigment accumulation, resulting in thinner, more wrinkled, and sallow skin. This internal ageing pathway underscores why addressing insulin resistance is essential for maintaining youthful, resilient skin.
- Telomere Shortening
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Inflammation / inflammaging
- And (via the mechanism of Hyperglycaemia) Endogenous Glycation
It also drives to collagen and elastin fibres, forming Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs).
AGEs stiffen collagen, impair elasticity, and trigger pigment accumulation, resulting in thinner, more wrinkled, and sallow skin. This internal ageing pathway underscores why addressing insulin resistance is essential for maintaining youthful, resilient skin.
Skin Ageing: The Metabolic Accelerator
A landmark Diabetes Care (2006) study found that a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet containing around 10% fat outperformed the conventional diabetes diet in improving insulin sensitivity. By reducing dietary fat, clients can lower insulin resistance, stabilise blood glucose, and restore both metabolic and skin health.
For skincare professionals, this represents a powerful opportunity to educate clients: beautiful, youthful skin begins with metabolic balance.
For skincare professionals, this represents a powerful opportunity to educate clients: beautiful, youthful skin begins with metabolic balance.
Continue your professional learning.Explore the Skin Nutrition Science Glossary, a growing resource designed for practitioners in aesthetics, nutrition and wellness science.
Article by Star Khechara
Professional agehacker, author, speaker, founder of skin nutrition institute
About me
Ex-skincare formulator and beauty author turned skin-nutrition educator: Star distilled her 20+ years of skin-health knowledge into the world’s first international accredited skin-nutrition school to teach skin therapists, facialists, face yoga practitioners and estheticians how to help their clients feed the skin from within for cellular-level rejuvenation and vibrant beauty.
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