How Diet Affects Your Skin

Is there a connection between what you eat and the health of your skin? As with many health-related issues, the answer is: it depends. It depends on the specific food in question, your individual health situation and many other factors that are unique to you. 

Beyond general advice to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated, dermatologists will rarely make specific recommendations about types of food to avoid or include to promote healthy skin. Why? Because, in many cases, there's little medical evidence to support such an approach. Perhaps the easiest way to explain it is to look at specific conditions:

Acne

There are a lot of myths about certain foods, such as chocolate or greasy fast food, causing or worsening acne. Studies, however, have shown an association between only a couple types of food and acne:

• Some evidence says that high-glycemic index foods (high-carbohydrate foods, such as white bread, processed foods, juice, soda, cereals (things we should limit anyway)) may trigger acne breakouts.
• Limited evidence suggests that certain dairy products, particularly skim milk, may be associated with acne, probably due to the effect of cow's milk on hormones.

If you consume dairy products made from cow's milk and your gets worse, then your dermatologist may make a specific recommendation to avoid those products and choose different forms of dairy. Or if you're eating an overall unhealthy diet with a lot of processed fast foods, they may suggest some lifestyle changes for overall health. If their skin benefits, that's a bonus.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema), Especially in Children

Parents often wonder if a food allergy is causing or worsening their child's eczema. In a small number of patients, this may be the case, but for the majority of people, there's not a connection. So, most of the time, doctors don't feel an elimination diet is needed. It could, in fact, lead to more serious deficiencies if dietary restrictions are too severe. Once again, an overall healthy, balanced diet is best.

Hair Loss/Thinning

There are multiple reasons for you to experience hair thinning, including underlying medical conditions, hormones, family history, and even nutrition in some cases. Our bodies rely on essential nutrients, such as iron and protein, to produce healthy hair. We obtain these building blocks through our diet. 

As part of an examination of someone with hair loss, dermatologists often check routine blood tests and recommend supplements for any deficiencies. How about using biotin? This is an over-the-counter hair supplement. You probably get enough biotin in your diet, and there's limited evidence to show that biotin is helpful for conditions like hair loss. Taking biotin supplements can interfere with certain laboratory tests. Talk to your doctor before taking biotin.

Not all recommendations apply to everyone. If you have questions about your skin health, it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist for professional advice that's tailored to your individual situation.