Are energy drinks bad for your skin?
A sugared 500 ml energy drink scores 29. It is mostly sugar water: 60 g of sugar per can, which sends your blood sugar up fast. Diets heavy in fast sugar are linked to more acne, and cutting back helped in a controlled trial. Sparkling water with lemon scores 94.
Energy drink500 ml · 240 kcal
290 g protein · 60 g carbs · 0 g fat per serving
What the scan likes
- Can provide a quick burst of energy due to caffeine and sugar.
What pulls the score down
- High sugar content can lead to energy crashes and is not beneficial for overall health.
- Excessive consumption of energy drinks can negatively impact sleep and heart health.
- Provides minimal nutritional value beyond simple carbohydrates.
Better swap
94
Sparkling water with lemon+65 points · Clear skin 95
Sources
- A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patientsSmith RN et al., Am J Clin Nutr (2007)
- Acne and your dietAmerican Academy of Dermatology
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Scanned with the Clear Food app on 29 September 2026. Values are estimates. Not medical advice.