The link between sensitive skin and diet

If the eyes are the window to the soul, our skin is the window to our wellbeing. Skin sensitivity is not only caused by what we put on our skin, but what we put into our bodies, too. Skin irritants can come from all kinds of sources, and so when our skin’s feeling extra sensitive, it may be worth a look at what’s cooking in the kitchen. As well as assessing your food for possible skin triggers, you can find out which foods are good for skin and even look to your food for dry skin remedies or soothing properties.

A balanced and skin-friendly diet, plenty of water, and a little helpful know-how can go a long way in helping you keep your skin calm and happy from the inside out.

Which foods are good for skin?  

Ok, so the notion of healthy eating is nothing new. We’re all pretty dialled in to the fact that eating too much processed, fatty, and salty food can be bad for our health. Our body needs certain vitamins and minerals to function at its best, and choosing foods rich in the likes of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc, are known to play an important role in keeping skin feeling healthy. As these vitamins and minerals are good for our health in general, they also make good guidelines for what to eat for healthy skin.

To an extent, you can even use some kinds of food for a dry skin remedy from the inside out. Foods that are rich in healthy, natural fats like avocados and walnuts help to keep your skin supple on a cellular level and boost hydration.

Don’t worry, you can still have that Friday night treat (phew!) – just try to keep the balance with a varied and nutrient-rich diet.

Water is essential to a healthy skin diet

To have a truly skin-friendly diet, remember to think about what you drink too. Staying hydrated is great for our skin’s health, so try to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Looking forward to enjoying a glass of wine tonight? Just keep in mind that alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes the body lose more water than usual, which can cause dehydration. Familiar with the five signs of dehydration? Watching out for dryness, roughness, tightness, dullness, and those fine dehydration lines will help you get prepared to rehydrate your skin.

Allergies and intolerances

You may know what to eat for healthy skin, but there might be some particular foods that you need to avoid. Food allergies and intolerances can cause skin upset for some people. Food sensitivities can range from lactose and gluten, to wheat and dairy, and irritation can occur in the form of redness, itching, rashes, and inflammation. Sound familiar? Take a trip to a dietician or your GP and get them to help you plan a more skin-friendly diet.

Keeping a food diary is a way to help you get closer to identifying the root cause of your skin sensitivity, so take it along with you when you go.