Dates for Skin: Do They Really Improve Skin Health?

There is a lot of secrecy surrounding dates when it comes to achieving beautiful skin. Regarding the science behind this, it is wise to remain cool-headed.
Dates can be a source of fiber, minerals and phytonutrients such as polyphenols, but currently, nothing in human studies suggests that consuming dates alone will cure acne, remove discoloration, moisturize very dry skin or halt visible skin aging. Therefore, it is crucial to talk about the potential benefits of dates concerning skin health in terms of their overall supportive role rather than as a beauty treatment.
At Soully Foods, we believe that open nutrition should be made clear in communication.

What Is the Actual Content of Dates?

Dates are sweet fruit that naturally contain high amounts of carbohydrates, and additionally dates are a source of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, copper and many plant compounds. Their exact nutritional make-up depends on the type of dates, maturity of the fruit, growing conditions, and processing technique.
Researchers have found out that date contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, as well as other phytochemicals which were shown to have antioxidant properties in lab research. Nevertheless, laboratory antioxidant properties do not mean that consumption of dates will lead to changes in skin. Most of the studies on dates are laboratory ones, and as of now human clinical studies are rather limited.
Moreover, it is essential to clarify misinformation existing on the Internet that dates are great sources of vitamin C and A - it is incorrect to claim that because of the content of vitamin C dates belong to collagen-bringing food.

What Benefits Can Dates Offer to Our Skin?

Dates are not specific skin treatments and their specific nutrients might play a role in providing the overall nutritional support for the healthy skin.

1. Dates Offer Protective Compounds from Plants

Dates contain polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids. These compounds are researched for their antioxidative effects, including their interaction with oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is important for overall health and skin health, however, the difference here is that the research conducted on dates does not involve human studies. In other words, most scientific work done on dates has studied the antioxidative properties of dates in cells, extracts, or animals, therefore, no firm evidence of a direct relation between consuming dates and wrinkle formation or pigmentation can be found.
Thus, one can say that while the whole lot of plant compounds can find their way into one's diet with the help of dates, it is not appropriate yet to expect any fortunately extraordinary cosmetic results from those compounds.

2. Copper Is Present in Dates

The quantity of copper present depends on the dates' variety and growing conditions. Copper is one of the minerals that play a significant role in the normal processes in the body like the formation of connective tissues, pigmentation, and antioxidant mechanisms.
Although the presence of copper in dates does not mean that consumption will help boost collagen production or firm the skin, copper is another mineral that together with other nutrients helps people maintain normal levels of mineral intake.

3. Dates Are Part of a Diverse, Whole-Food Diet

Skin health is determined by one's diet; it is not dependent on a single food. The American Academy of Dermatology claims that healthy skin comes from a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, although it adds that nutrition is not a replacement for sunscreen, moisturizer or appropriate medical treatment.
Dates may fit into a diet as any naturally sweet fruit. They can be added to oat bowls for breakfast, eaten with nuts, or used for sweetening recipes instead of processed desserts.
The important phrase is "part of". Dates are not expected to do all the work for your skin, as no food should.

4. Dates Supply Fibre

Whole dates are a source of fiber and this sets them apart from many other refined foods. Fiber contributes to the quality of one's diet, although there is no clinical proof that dates "detoxify" skin or remove toxins through digestion.
A more accurate formulation would be that dates are a source of fiber in the diet.

Can Eating Dates Improve Your Skin Glow?

"Glowing skin" is not a distinct clinical term. It can be an indication of a smoother surface, uniform color, sufficient hydration, or merely skin that looks well-rested.
At the moment, there is no experimental evidence indicating that eating a certain number of dates produces glowing skin. The mere fact that dates provide some nutrients to a properly balanced diet does not rule out that other factors, like sun protection, adequate moisturization, and treatment of any possible underlying diseases, play a more significant role.
Should dates be part of a skin-conscious diet? Definitely.
Should we expect them to provide glowing skin? No pious food can promise that.

Do Dates Assist with Acne?

There is a complicated relationship between food and acne, with some smaller studies indicating that diets low in the glycemic index may assist in reducing acne for specific groups of people. Conversely, other studies did not achieve the same result. For this reason, the American Academy of Dermatology regards diet as one of the factors that might lead to acne but not as the cause or cure for acne in a general sense.
Dates are sweet on their own but have different glycemic levels depending on their variety, ripeness, serving size, all foods consumed together and the person consuming them. No studies have been published proving that all types of dates are either acne cures or causes of acne.
People with recurring patterns of breakouts may start keeping records of food and symptoms related to this process and consult with a trained dermatologist or nutritionist. In many cases, if acne is painful or persistent, one would need to use appropriate skincare products or medication.

Does Applying Dates on the Skin Have the Same Effect as Ingesting Them?

No. Studies using a formulated date extract cannot be directly applied to whole dates or homemade face masks.

A small study with a cream containing 4 percent of a methanolic date extract was performed on 11 women for 8 weeks. Some signs of changes in skin parameters were noted by the research team, but they indicated further studies were required.

This caution can be explained by some factors:

• The study involved a very small group.
• It tested a certain type of extract in a certain type of cream.
• Eating dates was not tested.
• Usage of the mashed dates was not tested either.

No firm evidence has been provided to prove that dates can be used for skin care in a topical manner.

How Many Dates Should You Consume in Order to Sustain Skin Health?

So far, current research has not offered a specific quantity of dates when it comes to skin health. Simply adding more dates to one's meal plan with the intention to sustain skin health may not be wise.
It is better to eat dates in sufficient amounts that please one's appetite, diet, and health status. Dates can be:

• Chopped in oats or yogurt
• Eaten with nuts
• Included in a smoothie
• Used as sweetener in home-made snacks
• Swallowed simply as a piece of fruit

This being said, dates are products rich in carbs, and one should take this fact into consideration when planning one's diet. Moreover, the body's reaction may depend on sort of dates and individual characteristics.
It is also important not to forget that dates should be used along with completely different food products. For example, vitamin C is essential to produce collagen, and there is very little of it in dates. So, it is good to consume vegetables and fruits rich in C vitamin.

Selecting Dates with a Basic Ingredient List

When purchasing dates, make sure to find out if the product contains syrups, sweeteners, artificial coloring agents or any unnecessary preservatives.
Soully Foods Company sells its customers whole varieties such as Medjool, Ajwa, Safawi and Arabian dates. The company claims that its whole dates are obtained from Saudi Arabian and Saudi farms and do not contain any sweeteners or preservatives.
Making sure that you choose simple products does not put dates in the category of skincare remedies but helps you know what exactly you eat.

The Bottom Line

The most credible benefits of dates for skin come from their place within a nutritious, varied diet. Dates provide fibre, minerals and an assortment of plant compounds, all of which can contribute to general nutritional wellbeing.
What dates have not been proven to do is equally important. Eating dates has not been shown to erase wrinkles, clear acne, fade pigmentation or create an instant glow. Research on date-specific skin outcomes is still limited, and findings from laboratory extracts should not be presented as established results from eating whole dates.
Enjoy dates because they are naturally sweet, satisfying and versatile. Consider any possible skin support a part of the bigger picture, alongside a balanced diet, sun protection, suitable skincare and professional advice when a skin concern persists.