Ever wonder how the Ketogenic diet or how including a probiotic supplement into your daily routine could impact your skin? We were curious to, so we set out to learn more aboutthese popular lifestyle choices and their influence on the skin. Keep reading for our unbiased review of some of the latest health and wellness trends and their impact on the skin.

Keto

The Ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate diet, that fuels the body mostly on fat. It consists of low-carb foods like meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and natural fats. Foods full of sugar and starch like, rice, bread, potatoes, soda, and juice are avoided.  The ketogenic diet has been prescribed by physicians to help control seizures in some people with epilepsy and recently the diet made headlines for some of its less than pretty side effects including “keto breath” i.e. smelly breath and “keto crotch” a slight odor of the vagina that some dieters reported experiencing while on the keto diet. The elimination of carbohydrates may trigger an anti-inflammatory response in the body which is good for skin conditions like acne.  However it may also contribute to another side effect called pruigo pigmentosa aka keto rash a rare form of inflammatory dermatosis.  

Probiotics

In recent years we have seen and heard a lot about gut health. While a probiotic diet isn’t really a thing many individuals do  choose a diet rich in probiotics to improve their gut health. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help keep the gut healthy. Foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and fermented tea are all foods and drinks rich in probiotics. There are even topical skin care products that include probiotics in their ingredients to help keep the microflora of the skin balanced.  According to Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD of the American Academy of Dermatology oral probiotics and foods containing probiotics such as yogurt can be helpful in the improvement of acne and rosacea.  The healthy bacteria present in these foods help to balance the gut with healthy bacteria and decrease inflammation responsible for acne and roasacea.

Veganism

Last year Beyoncé invited her followers to join her on her vegan journey and once again veganism took the spotlight.  The vegan way of life has been around for decades and to that degree many people understand its premise which is the avoidance of animal protein in favor of  fruits, veggies, grains, meat substitutes and dairy free foods. Many individuals engaging in a vegan diet refer to it as a lifestyle choice versus a diet. So how does veganism shape up when it comes to your skin? It truly depends on what you eat?  A vegan diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods and refined sugars can definitely be beneficial to the skin. A well-balanced vegan diet just like a healthy diet that includes lean animal protein can help reduce inflammation and keep the skin moisturized. However, if your vegan diet is full of saturated fats and sugar it is subject to the same skin dilemmas as a non-vegan eater including glycation, dehydration and inflammation.

Gluten Free

Gluten is an ingredient found in wheat, barley, and rye.  Individuals diagnosed with Celiac disease often manage their symptoms of the auto immune disease by engaging in a gluten-free diet. For them their body is essentially “allergic” to gluten. If they ingest a food containing gluten it destroys the lining of their small intestine and prevents them from absorbing nutrients from food.  Individuals that choose a gluten free lifestyle that do not have Celiac disease, food allergies, or other food intolerances report its weight loss and energy boosting benefits. It makes since that if you avoid pasta, pizza, and beer all of which are gluten containing foods that you would lose weight. What will a gluten free diet do for your skin? A review by the National Psoriasis Foundation’s medical board suggests a gluten-free diet in conjunction with other medical treatments may possibly reduce the severity of psoriasis however this might only make a difference if the individual has a diagnosed gluten allergy or known hypersensitivity.

Nordic, Mediterranean, Flexitarian and Dash Diet

According to U.S. News and Word Reports the Mediterranean, Dash, and Flexitarian Diet are among the most popular diets of 2019. The Nordic diet ranked 9th.  Here is a quick bit of info on each.  Nordic Diet-a plant-based diet inspired by Scandinavian traditions.  Mediterranean Diet- inspire by the Mediterranean it includes lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.  Flexitarian Diet- very similar to vegetarianism. Dash Diet-emphasizes portion control and eating more fruits and vegetables to lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension.  Among these diets and many like it a common theme of eating plenty fruits and vegetables, avoiding too much sugar, lean protein and in our opinion eating sensibly are prevalent.  These practices provide benefits not only the skin but your overall health as well.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides clear information about healthy eating and its benefits on your overall health. When it comes to your diet and maintaining healthy skin, eating sensibly is key. If however you are concerned about food allergies the best course of action is to see a dermatologist to determine if a food allergy is in fact the cause of your specific skin condition.

YELLE skincare is committed to preventive care and your overall skin and wellness health. We strive to provide useful information to keep your skin healthy and to keep you confident in your personal skin and wellness journey.