Skin Problems?  Change your Diet!

Does your skin resemble a volcanic crater that erupts more frequently than Mount St. Helens?  Do oils run freely from your pores, taking your make-up along with it? (Avalanche!)

Or are you pestered with skin that itches and peels-without the sunburn?

Well first of all; you have our sympathies.  As a psoriasis sufferer, I totally relate.  Problems with your largest body organ are not fun, often painful and can be extremely embarrassing.  You’ve tried all the topical agents you can lay your hands on, joined a yoga class to get in touch with your inner yin in an attempt to calm your angry epidermis, and even taken your dermatologist’s advice and started UV light treatment.  But…have you changed your diet?

Yes I know; we all hate the thought of having to turn our world upside down and actually start cooking once in a while instead of grabbing from the cornucopia of processed and packaged delights out there.  After all, man’s definition of hunting and gathering these days is to jump in the car and make for the nearest fast food restaurant or 7 Eleven.  But, our eating habits aren’t just wreaking havoc on our arteries and cholesterol levels people; your skin can also become victim.  We are what we eat right?  And what better way to advertise what’s going on inside than to have it splashed across a 20 square foot epidermal banner for everyone to see?

Skin cells like all of your body’s cells require nutrients in order to function happily in the way they’re supposed to.  Don’t provide them with the delicacies they enjoy, such as essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids and your skin is going to broadcast its displeasure loud and clear.  I know I’m angry when hungry.   It’s a proven fact that a lack of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B-Complex and essential fatty acids has been connected with an alarming rise in skin problems.  Heard of Dermatitis?  Believe me, you don’t want to; it’s itchy and irritating and just not fun to take out on dates.  But it’s becoming more of a commonplace disease in skin.

Consuming nutrient rich foods can help; believe me, when I’m eating correctly my skin is a much happier camper.  You know what they are too; they’re those foods you normally ignore as you push your shopping cart determinedly towards the snack cakes and bread section.  I’m talking fruits and vegetables-especially the vitamin E-rich green leafy kind, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  Yes, bread is fine if consumed moderately-and if you can let go of your white Wonder Bread obsession.  You’re a grown-up now.

Did you know that tomatoes can protect against inflammation (that’s when your skin is so red and irritated you consider calling the fire brigade), and various beans can help repair damaged skin cells; say from the ravages of acne.  Salmon can improve the elasticity of your skin, and drinking Green Tea which is rich in antioxidants, can fight against wrinkles.

Which leads us onto the subject of antioxidants.  Anti-what, you say?  Antioxidants are molecules that  fight free radicals in the body; nasty little buggers that go around corrupting healthy cells and making them as unbalanced as they are.  It’s a chain reaction that creates a war zone inside you and can lead to an assortment of diseases…including accelerated aging in the epidermis.  So make sure you eat antioxidant-rich foods; citrus foods are abundant in vitamin C, those dreaded greens in vitamin E, and you can always fall back on the infamous Acai berry which can be found in any number of products from pill, to liquid to chocolate.  Yes, chocolate people.  Make sure it’s dark; and the darker the better.

And remember, it may not be poor diet that’s causing your skin ailments.  Perhaps you’re a healthy eater and are still angering your skin.  Well, don’t panic, you may just be experiencing an allergic reaction to something you’re eating.  Monitor your skin’s response to certain foods; dairy and gluten-rich foods are often the culprit.  If you do suspect a food allergy to be the cause of your woes, you’ll want to consult your physician immediately.

After all, if you’re lungs were about to give up you’d stop smoking, right?  You really don’t want your skin to quit on you.   It’s your largest organ, and the one everyone can see.  Take care of it.