I get so many questions from my clients about nutrition and skin care. I have a regular client who swears her skin looks good when she eats well, and it looks horrible when she eats poorly: too much sugar, grease, fat, etc. I have very oily skin, and while I was out shopping with a friend last weekend, I was complaining to her about my skin type. We stopped to get lunch from the food court, and I had a slice of pizza. She looked at me and said, “No wonder your skin is oily! Look at the greasy pizza you are eating!”
From what I have been taught, food does not affect the way skin looks; by this, I mean by chocolate won’t make you break out, sugar and grease won’t make you more oily, and so on. Is this true? I have had clients ask if drinking soda will damage their skin. I would think that soda with or without caffeine could possibly dry out the skin and dehydrate it a little bit, but again, I am not sure.
Of course a good glass of ice water or fruit juice would probably be the best choice. I personally do not always eat the healthiest foods, and my skin has never looked better than it does right now. And to a certain extent, I do believe that what we are putting into our bodies is going to reflect how we appear on the outside. Are there some foods that truly do affect skin conditions in negative or positive ways? Or does it vary for each individual?
June 4th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
All the experts say that food does not affect your skin. I go by what I see with my own skin and my clients. I think the experts are wrong! Whenever my acneic patients eat badly especially sugar I notice a difference! Me too. I see a difference when I drink a lot of red wine. I start to breakout on the lower half of my face and I dont really breakout. I think(and its just a theory) that if you eat something that alters your hormone level it affects your skin. Like sugar, alcohol, too many carbs, soda. If you drink lots of water and eat lots of vegetables and healthy protein your skin should not be as reactive. Oh yeah, and processed foods. Thats a killer! Here’s to good skin!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Monika - Thank you for the comment! This is the kind of information I am looking for. And I could not agree more; I really think it varies for each person. Maybe I can tell my clients that if they notice a negative change in their skin and they think it could be due to something they are eating, they might want to consider cutting it out of their diet if it’s really a big concern for them. I really think that the healthier we are, the better our skin will look, so I am going to stick with that theory! Thanks again.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I am certain that my diet effects my skin. for the most part, I maintain a healthy diet; however, when I’m not, I pustules on my cheeks and my gets “tons” of stubborn whiteheads. (usually when I eat pizza, drink sodas and eat sweets) my body isn’t used to these types of food (except for the sweets; they are my weaknes)
June 6th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Dear colleagues,
our mission, I believe, is to improve the appearance of skin via it’s health. Good health is normal functioning of the body and all of it’s parts. Body parts are not isolated islands. They interact and affect each other. Skin is the largest organ of a body. It reflects every organ’s condition. Since it is the outermost one it displays many inner conditions (therefor in older times doctors believed in importance of the entire body’s observation). We get rid of the toxins through the digestive tract, kidneys and skin. If one of these systems is overloaded then two other ones should work harder.
Whether you are a dermatologist or an esthetitian in Russia ( all esthetitians in Russia have medical background) you consult your acneic client with a gastroenterologist and endocrinologist (as skin is also a secretory organ). All of my clients in Russia that had acne on their chics were sent to check on their digestion tract. ALL OF THEM had problems with a stomach or intestine. After a course of probiotic therapies combined with specific diet and series of facials they’d usually clear off and get rid of breakouts.
How could diet not affect your skin?..
June 7th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
You should read some of Dr. Perricone’s books. He addresses this subject matter heavily, claiming that certain foods do cause inflammation in the body, which shows up in the skin.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hmm, while I agree with you that “chocolate wont make you break out” I must point out that for people with great skin, food really doesnt have any effects on it, however, for two types of skin in particular, food plays a fairly large role in how their skin looks.
The first type are people who suffer from certain types of acne. What in particular can cause breakouts runs the gamut. Can be dairy for some and sugars for others, sugar causes inflamation in the skin and with overactive inflamed acne it can literally make things worse. The other type that quickly comes to mind is people who suffer from rosacea…they should stay away from certain foods and drinks, specifically spicy foods, dairy and wheat foods and of course alcoholic drinks.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
every skin type is different some one can eat junk foods and not show signs but eventually it catches up as you get older i for one breaks out after eating chocolate oe even drinking a cup of chocolate you should also do internal cleansing periodically. good skin care is also important morning and night i use organic products only on my skin , inever use peels or harsh abrasives always natural if i cannot eat it i do not use it on my skin. also drink lots of water good source no sodas for me lots of fresh fruits
June 12th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Oh and by the way both ice water or fruit juice (unless its freshly juiced) are not good for you!! :) Most fruit juices are loaded with sugars and ice water can be bad for your digestion…
June 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
What you eat equals what your skin looks!!!!!The skin is reflection of what you put into your body and DIGESTED. Read Dr. Perricone’s book. I recently acquired a book named “Gorgeous Skin in 30 Days” by Erica Angyal, Australian lliving in Japan. She is proving food, lifestyle, supplements and exercise makes a big difference in skin. Hope the book is available in US…
In my practice, I told my clients that 80% of their skin condition is their responsibility - inside- out! I promote whole food concentrate named Juice Plus+, capsuled powder of 17 fruits and vegges plus grain/nuts. We must eat 9-13 servings of fruits and vegges every day but who can do it? So this wholefood concentrate does the job. If you are interested in getting to know more about this product, please visit http://www.must4health.com and http://www.abc-media.us/ and listen to 4 doctors talking about this amazing health aid (12 min). You will be awaken. Wishing you the Best, TJ
June 12th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
you have diffrent zones on your face that reflects diffrent organs of your body so therfore i agree with the fact that if an organ in you body is not properly working other organs tend to work harder. chineese diagnostics believe that your cheeks repersent you large and small intestines check out chineese face mapping it will help figure your acneic clients out.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
What you eat is vitally important to the condition of your skin. A poor diet may cause inflammation, resulting in atopic dermatitis, sensitivity and acne, as well as glycation, the breakdown of proteins like collagen from sugars (wrinkles anyone?). Also, poor diet causes poor mental function which causes poor emotional state which causes poor skin. Think holistic. I have been teaching holistic beauty and nutrition in esthetic and wellness institutes for years and also cover the topic in my book on holistic beauty; Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Esthetics. This is a really important topic that is not covered very extensively, if at all, in school. Antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins and other vital nutrients are exceedingly necessary for proper function of the skin and overall appearance. As a side note, has anyone seen the recent reports that lycopene (from tomato) provides UVA and UVB protection to the skin? A facial treatment or skin care regimen is only as effective as the internal functions and nutrients provided through diet. A whole organic food diet, lots of colors and variety, is key. Skin care should mimic this - whole unrefined ingredients loaded with antioxidants, nutrients, anti-inflammatory compounds and, like a healthy diet, include some supplements like MSM, CoQ10 and R-Lipoic. And chocolate? Go for it. As long as it’s at least 75% chocolate, it’s loaded with antioxidant and skin caring flavonoids like procyanidins (goes well with flavonoid rich red wine). They work well topically in skin care too. Flavonoids, like beta-carotene, tend to stain so they are not often used in skin care at effective percentages. It’s really time that this issue be addressed, without proper nutrition, proper skin care is impossible. Dr. Pugliese is writing some useful reports for Skin Inc. Not all of it is internal info, but what’s good topically, when it comes to botanicals and nutrients, is good internally. Lots to know and study. Look for me, it’s what I’m teaching at schools throughout the country.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I have suffered from oily skin and acne my whole life, and I used to be a believer that food did not have any affect on the skin. Then one day out of desperation, I went to the book store and came across The Clear Skin Prescription, by Nicholas Perricone. He believes that certain foods cause inflammation in the body, which leads to acne and other inflammatory diseases. So I tried his program for a month and my skin has never looked better!!! I now recommend this book to all my clients and friends–everyone has seen amazing results. I am now a firm believer that what you put in your body not only affects your skin, but your overall mental and physical health.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Food does not affect your skin in a way …..like french fries makes your skin oily or chocolate/sugar will make you break out, how ever eating healthy works from the inside out and if you abuse your body with drugs, alcohol,smoking one of the first places you will see it, will be on your face. I’ve been in this industry for 15 years and I have seen alot of this.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
If speaking in general, the food you eat doesn’t necessarily affect the skin in the old-wives tale sort of way. (ie:. eating chocolate causes acne) However, there are an increasing number of studies that do suggest that there is a link between eating certain foods and acne, such as dairy and excess sugar (perhaps this helps explain the concerns about chocolate). However, more often, any link between the food we eat and the effects on the skin can be attributed to food sensitivies/allergies.
Many have commented on the Perricone diet and it’s merits, but like most eating plans, some will find greater results than others. One thing I do really agree with is the consumption of healthy fats as any no-fat or super low-fat diets will cause the skin to look dry and tired. Our bodies need good fats (found in such items like salmon, nuts, and avocado).
All in all, everyone is different and it really does vary according to the individual. However, I do think that the old adage “everything in moderation” is one of the best ways to enjoy life, instead of following any book, diet, or crazy new fad, that tells you to avoid this or only eat that!
June 12th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
What you eat does effect your skin dramatically. When you access & treat your client you should be discussing the importance of a proper diet, exercise, getting enough sleep and managing stress. You can not treat any disorder from the surface alone, you must take a look at the whole picture in order to effectively treat any condition. Your client will see the improvements and thank you for it.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I think food does affect the skin, the more whole foods you put into your body the better. They feed the cells and fight free radicals, so you age better on the outside and inside. Spicy foods affect rosceasa. Sugar affects acne, and so on. So try having your client or clients change a little bit of their diet and see what happens with their skin, I couldnt hurt!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Actually, I have read articles that prove that sugar causes glycation, which is essentially inflammation leading to aging. In other words, there is a direct link to eating lots of sugar and prematurely aging skin. Also, some things known to trigger rosacea are alcohol and spicy foods, so if they are a trigger for that type of skin condition, in my mind, food has an effect on the skin.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Glycation (and the importance of controlling it) can be misunderstood. It is not necessarily eating too much sugar, as in sucrose, that is the problem. It’s eating too much of any high carb foods, including sugar, that can create the breakdown and aging of the skin caused by glycation.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Definitely food affects the skin. Think about it-a few cups of hot coffee, can cause the heart to race, the skin to perspirate and this flush also creates a skin flush. The skin has a natural built-in thermeter and foods can warm or cool the skiin and therefor the skin is greatly affected by what we eat. If someone has roasacea, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol will agravate the already sensitive skin. For this reason, in my spa we have a resident nutritionist on call to meet with our clients who want to improve their skin from the inside out.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Ok, you are right about an occasional candy bar will not cause a break unless of course they are allergic to milk..
Anyway, most clients who say they are breaking out do to their food they maybe be only eating poorly and it will mess with their hormones and immune system and it will show on their skin the largest organ and the only one we can see, so just imagine what our their other organs look like!
And while your skin may look the best ever you might just have a great immune system and the occasional nasty food for you will ofcourse tax your whole body it maybe stronger and it might not stress your body as much.
But, look if your nutrition is poor it will affect the organs of the body. And this could come across as blemishes, rashes, dry skin, overly oily skin…..there are many conditions that most people just assume “is their type” when really it could really be their nutrition.
I have worked with endocrine and nutrition specialists who have taught me so much more…but to some it up I agree with Caterina about specific allergic amplifing foods and the also with the rest of the experts here about inflammation in direct aging of the body.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Colleen,
Docs, etc will continuosly tell you food does not effect the skin, but I disagree, anything we put into our bodies internally effects the skin. Medications, food, drink, etc.
No choc and greasy foods themselves do not cause acne if they did everyone would have acne. But everybodies body processes food differently. There is much research on the effects of sugar with rosacea and acne.
Salt. iodine high foods will trigger acne.
Dr. Pericones books I feel does a great job of explaining all this, And all clients I have that have followed those diest have had an increase in bettter skin. My husband is a prime example of food effecting the skin. Wwe can watch his skin breakout within i day after eating diary or choc. It is because he has a sensitivity to them.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
And in reading evryones comments so far, everyone touches on all the reason what we eat effects our skin.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I truly believe that what we eat effects our skin. I have always had nice skin but once I stopped the sugar and the soda my skin went from good to great and glowing. I recommend people read any book by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Try his 3 day plan for skin and check the results.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Sure, in the skin care industry, we’re learning that certain foods don’t directly cause break-outs, oilyness, etc….
But, hello, eating healthy, balanced nutrition leads to better, over-all mind & body health… Naturally when we’re stressed out or on the go, we don’t always eat right…. Teenagers & adults breakout for many reasons: stress, hormones & heredity… Teenagers (& many aduts !) don’t know about proper skin care, or proper nutrition… They’re going for the fast food, fried foods, chips & soda… Not too many fruits & veggies!! Plus, alcohol or smoking…
Of course it’s going to affect their over-all health, including the skin…. Adults don’t always eat right either, & when you factor in stress & hormones, voila, the skin’s going to be affected!!
Eating a balanced diet, enough rest, physical activity & stress relief/reduction are all ways to a healthy, happy continuation….
& that’s my 2 $!!
June 15th, 2008 at 3:36 am
Hi There,
I received the email from Skin, Inc. and saw your questions and was prompted to answer. I have been practicing aesthetics for 14 years and would have to say that in my experience I have found diet to have a direct correlationt to the skin breakouts. Firstly, the cheek area is the the “dietary” area and will be the first area in which to reflect irregular diet. The reason the skin will reflect “overload” impurities from within the body indicates the liver is on “over-time” in trying to cleanse the blood. The skin is fed directly by the blood - carrying the impurities. I do agree that eating chocolate will not make someone’s skin breakout specifically, some individuals will experience this.
Good Luck and practice what you preach and start eating more antioxidants for your organs and antioxidant serums, complexes, cremes for the skin to ingest through the pores.
Warm regards
Janice
June 15th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
You just hit on a highly debated question. In my opinion…No, a piece of chocolate, slice of pizza will not effect the skin instantly like people believe. However, if that is the nutritional basis it can have a effect. Not because you ate chocolate, but because you are not getting vitamens, minerals, and antioxidants that are better for you. Plus, clients need to be aware when they are eating that chocolate that is breaking them out….are they stressed or hormonal? Some good books to read if you are interested in understanding the connection between food and skin are books by Dr Perricone and Dr Oz (the guy from Oprah). There are numerous out there those are the names I can think of. Good foods for skin is pretty much any vegetable or fruit, but especially berries (like blueberries). In the end it does depend on the individual, their allergies, or foods that just don’t agree with them.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I do not know what experts these are that say ” Food has nothing to do with your Skin”. Do not listen to people who have no common sense. ABSOLUTLEY everrything that goes through your mouth has more to do with your skin than anything other cream or skin product. FOOD first… Nutrition inside is the most important and second comes nutrition outside . HOW a certain food affects a certain person varies from person to person. Just be aware and record all you eat and how it affects you. One thing I know is all natural and Raw food from a healthy soil will be very nutrious to you. Other than that most foods out there becareful and watch what you eat . INGREIDIENTS……
June 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I want to thank everyone for the great comments.
Lori – I agree, sweets are my weakness, too! But I’d love to try and eliminate them to see if my skin improves.
Svetlana – That’s really interesting to know that your clients with acne had stomach or intestine problems. It certainly sounds like diet affects the skin.
Natalie – We sold Dr. Perricone’s skin care products at the Sephora I worked at. I’m familiar with the philosophy behind them and I’d love to read his books.
Caterina – This is great info about acne and rosacea clients. Thank you.
Jean-Elizabeth – I try and stay away from soda and drink lots of water. I like your idea of ‘if you can’t eat it, you don’t use it on your skin.’ Makes sense!
TJ – “Gorgeous Skin in 30 Days” sounds like a book I need to get my hands on. Thank you for the product link, I’ll look into that.
Shannon – That’s really interesting information. I’ve never heard of Chinese Face Mapping before. Thank you!
Jimm – Your idea about poor diet leading to poor mental function and a poor emotional state is so true. You have a lot of great knowledge in this area.
Dawn – My skin is also very oily and I am always looking for a solution. Nicholas Perricone’s book sounds great.
Rose – This is so true. Drugs, alcohol and smoking are a definite NO if you want to have nice skin.
Kat – I think “everything in moderation” is a good way to look at it. Each individual is different.
Sarah – Getting enough sleep and managing stress are things that I don’t think enough people pay attention to – and I can see how it would affect your skin.
Shannon – I will tell my clients that if they are noticing a problem with their skin, they should consider altering their diet if they think that could be playing a role.
Rhonda – Interesting to note that sugar can cause premature aging. Thank you for the comment!
Marlene – It is such a good idea to have a nutritionist on site at your spa. Is this person also a licensed esthetician? I would love to know more about this.
Mimi – I will certainly discuss diet with my clients to make sure that their skin type is not a result of what they are eating.
Clarice – That is very true about medications affecting our skin as well. My father is ill and takes many medications that dehydrate his skin and give it a dull look. I have got him using a good moisturizer now to help with this.
LJ – Thank you for the comment. I am glad you have discovered what makes your skin even better!
Sandy – Yes, I certainly think all of the fast food we consume (myself included) affects how our skin looks. And people don’t realize this unless we educate them.
Janice – I have been hearing a lot about the cheeks being the “dietary” area. I will take note of this with my clients.
Nicole – It is a smart idea to always ask yourself what kind of nutritional value you are getting from what you are eating. I hadn’t heard of Dr. Oz, but I will check into that. Thank you.
Imran – It seems like we’ve come to a conclusion through all of this. Nutrition and food affect the skin greatly, often times more than what we apply to the skin externally. Thank you for your insights and comment.
Thanks again everyone!
June 16th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Nutrition is not about believe, it is about science. There are many studies that where done by some caring physicians that support how important nutrition is to acne sufferer who suffer from inflamsufferation of the sebceoussubmits follicles. Omega 3 proved it self and other
supplement to be as affective as antibiotics
June 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Skin conditions and types vary greatly as do diets. However, just as our bodies thrive on good nutrition (vitamins, minerals, etc), so does our skin. All organs of the body benefit from good nutrients, but eating specific foods doesn’t always affect people the same way. The difference is in appearance and reaction. Skin will look better on a better diet, but may behave badly when we don’t eat properly. I know from personal experience that when I am dehydrated or eating poorly that my skin is dull and flaky, but as I drink more water and eat fruit and veggies it gets a healthy glow. Decide for yourself and tell your clients that eating healthier is always a good idea!
June 17th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hmmm. If your nutritional choices do not affect your skin, then why are major skin care companies (i.e. - Murad) offering supplements to change and improve the condition of client’s skin? That’s a rhetorical question. I believe it is “old school” thinking that nutrition has no effect on skin. Current science is pointing in the opposite direction. That it matters very much what we eat. That is not to say that it is as simplistic as, oily food = oily skin. The relationships are far more complex than that.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Hi Colleen,
I absolutely agree that you are what you eat! Especially in our profession, nutrition is a key factor in achieving healthy skin. Have you read any of Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s books? He is a great advocate of following a high protein, low-glycemic diet to combat skin problems from aging skin to acneic skin (particuarly inflammation, which he believes is the root of all skin problems). I really find his research very interesting and helpful when giving clients advice on how to take care of themselves.
With that said, I do think that eating bad foods like chocolate & soda, if consumed regularly, may contribute to unhealthy skin. I don’t think it would be considered the major cause of a break-out, but it could most likely contribute to whatever is at the root of it.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I think what we eat makes a huge difference to most peoples’ skins. These days with so many additives, sugar and fat in the food chain we have to make a conscious effort to make healthier choices. A cleaner, fresher diet is definitely related to a clear, glowing skin in my opinion.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Probiotics vs. antibiotics!Try not to kill healthy flora in your digestive system, but rather support it for the sake of your whole self.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Eating foods high in antioxidants is the key! I always tell my clients with problematic skin that healthy skin begins on the inside. Remember, our skin is our largest organ! Of course what we eat effects it!
June 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I do believe the foods you eat effect you. I have clients that have acne and I advise them to stay away from milk and sugars. Reason being is that when you have bacteria producing acne, it thrieves on it.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Hi there,
I just came accross this blog and found this post. I thought I’d put in my 2 cents. I’ve been an esthetician since 2000 and a holistic nutritionist since 2006. Food most certainly has an affect on your skin!!! It’s the largest organ in your body. To say food has no affect on it is like saying what you eat has no affect on your heart or liver, which we all know is not true. Toxic foods need to be dealt with somewhere and a lot of times it comes out in the skin. Food sensitivities to “healthy” foods like wheat and dairy can come out in the skin. Eczema for example can be directly related to what you eat and how your body digests it, or doesn’t digest it-depending on how healthy you are. Bsically you are what you eat…and digest!
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