By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
A balanced diet is healthy for your entire body, including your skin. Everything in your diet contributes to the health of your skin, and it’s important to make sure you’re getting all of it in the right proportions. Here’s a breakdown of the role foods play in keeping your skin healthy.
Carbs: Carbs have long been on the nation’s dietary “naughty” list, but this is unfair. While it’s true that too many refined carbs (i.e. sugars) can increase cortisol production and may contribute to acne breakouts, complex carbohydrates are a necessary part of your diet and resistant starch may help you stay fuller longer and move toxins out of your body.
Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are keys to healthy skin. First, they contain significant amounts of antioxidants, which can neutralize damaging free radicals before they affect your skin. They also contain selenium, which can help your skin resist sun damage.
Meats: Meats contain many essential proteins that our bodies can use to make the essential building blocks of skin, such as collagen. If you’re cutting down on meat consumption or cutting it out altogether, you have to make sure you’re supplementing the protein in other ways to make sure your skin has the materials it needs to remain healthy and elastic.
Fats: Even fats have a small but important role in your skin’s health. Some antioxidants and nutrients are fat-soluble, so it’s important to make sure you have enough fat to allow your body to use these nutrients. Fat is also the primary component in cell membranes, including your skin cells’ membranes. Cutting out too much fat can leave your skin dry and brittle.
In addition to a good diet, it’s sometimes important to remove old, damaged skin to make sure your healthy, youthful skin shines through. A chemical peel is one way to remove old, damaged skin while exposing your skin directly to powerful antioxidants.
To learn more about making sure your skin is as healthy as it can be, please contact La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic, helping patients from across San Diego.
