Get the glow:
how good nutrition can help your skin In an age where everything can be filtered and Photoshopped, we’re constantly surrounded by visions of perfect skin. But the reality is different, with more than half of us suffering with a skin condition of some form. So, could an improved diet be the answer? Writing | Jenna Farmer
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rom acne to flaky skin. From chronic issues like psoriasis, to those blemishes that always arrive at that time of the month. Chances are you’ve experienced problem skin in the past, or may be living with several of these conditions. Skin issues can understandably knock our confidence, but it’s important to know they’re common and nothing to be embarrassed about. The truth is, there’s no such thing as ‘perfect skin’, and none of us should be striving for it. With much of what we see online being edited and unrealistic, we applaud Instagrammers, like Em Ford (@mypaleskinblog), who peel off the makeup and show what living with skin problems really looks like.
While you shouldn’t have to hide your skin condition, some people do find that nutritional changes make a difference to their skin health – whether it’s simply making them feel confident without makeup, or easing the discomfort of conditions like psoriasis. We chat to the experts to get their top tips on the simple nutritional changes that might give your skin a boost…
Can changing your diet solve your skin issues?
While eating healthily will always be beneficial for your overall wellbeing, there’s no guarantee it can necessarily cure or change your skin issues. “What we eat can certainly influence our skin health, but many people might struggle with skin problems regardless of what they eat,” explains dietitian Sophie Medlin, who urges you not to blame yourself, your lifestyle, or
your diet if you’re suffering with skin problems.
Eat a rainbow
When it comes to our general health, the more varied our diet the better. A simple way to remember this is by making sure your fruit and veg bowl is as ‘rainbow-like’ as possible. “My top nutritional tips for healthy glowing skin would be to eat a diet full of bright colours like greens, salad, peppers, berries, nuts, and seeds, which all have fabulous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits,” explains Louise Walsh, a dermatology and cosmetic nurse. Antioxidants can help protect our skin against free radicals (that can be found from things like pollution and smoke), while anti-inflammatories can help with things such as skin redness. >>>
June 2020 • happiful.com • 67
