Awareness of food intolerances has grown in recent years, with many people choosing to eliminate or reduce the amount of a certain food group in their diet.
Indeed, the ‘free from’ market rose by 13 per cent between 2015 and 2016, according to recent Mintel research.
While many look out for symptoms of bloating, headaches and an irritable bowel, there may be an even easier way to tell that your body is unhappy with what you are eating.
“The skin is our body’s largest organ,” said Rhiannon Lambert, a Harley Street nutritionist.
“Problems with skin can indicate many things, such as lack of sleep, dehydration, hormonal imbalance and pollution, but sometimes it may be dietary.”
The skin on our face is especially sensitive to what we eat.
“The forehead and ‘beard’ area, for example, is particularly high in sebaceous (oil) glands, mainly in men but also in women, which react to different hormone levels. This can be influenced by what we eat,” explained Dr David Jack, a skincare expert.
“Intolerances vary hugely from person to person, but the most common ones affecting the skin are those related to autoimmune sensitivities such as gluten and lactose intolerance, and diets which tend to be high in processed animal products.”
Dairy, gluten and sugar are food groups known to antagonise the skin of some people.
“They are inflammatory foods, and this excess inflammation may appear as redness on the skin,” said Sandra Greenback, a nutritionist.
She added that dietary intolerances may be the cause of skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.
While spots have long been considered a teenage rite of passage, they could also be triggered by what you’re eating – particularly if breakouts persist into adulthood.
“In people who are intolerant to dairy or gluten, usually there is an autoimmune component to the underlying cause, but in diets high in refined sugar and animal fats, it is believed that high blood sugar levels influence the spectrum of bacteria on the surface of the skin and in the pores, increasing the risk of developing spots,” said Dr Jack.
“In addition, high blood sugar levels can result in glycation reactions in the skin, which increase inflammation, particularly around pores, which are highly active tissues – this increases the risk of developing spots.”
Lambert suggested focusing on one particular area of the face for dietary intolerances.
“Different areas on your face can link to different things. Blemishes on your forehead are linked to stress, on your cheeks it is dietary-related, and on your chin it is a hormonal imbalance,” she explained.
“If your cheeks are good, you know you’re eating well.”
Greenbank recommended eliminating foods you suspect may be causing an issue for a period of three weeks before re-introducing them one by one to monitor symptoms.
“Make sure your diet contains plenty of antioxidants from colourful fruit and vegetables to help support your body’s detoxification, drink plenty of water and look after your gut health,” she added.
Dr Jack also advised eating fewer processed foods, and more plant-based options.
Before cutting out food groups completely, you should seek professional advice to ensure you don’t miss out on any vital nutrients.
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