Have You Got Vegan Wrinkles?

That sudden health kick sounds like it’ll do the business for your waist line but at what price to your skin?

- Fiona Embleton

Look at you, all flush with smugness over sticking to your diet. But while the kilos may be sliding off your body, are the years creeping onto your face? Dermatologists’ increasingly diagnose skin complaints based on face-food link. So do dietitians; skin ailments give them a good clue as to what’s wrong with your diet. “Certain foods and drinks can affect the gut negatively, and as your skin is related to your digestive health, this can result in inflammation, oxidative stress and signs of ageing on your face,” says UK-based freelance dietitian Kate Roberts. But it’s not simply the usual culprits—gluten, dairy, wine, and carbs—that are to blame for your gut/skin throwing a wobbly. It turns out that hallowed health foods such as fish, soya beans, and even vegetables can cause trouble if you’re not careful. Surprised? We were. To avoid the skin-related pitfalls your health kick can bring, read on...

SOYA FACE

So you’ve ditched dairy, and we bet that your spots have disappeared, too. One theory: cow’s milk (even organic) contains the hormones testosterone and oestrogen, which cause oil glands to go into overdrive and make sebum thicker.

“So instead of moving dead skin cells to the surface, the sebum forms a plug that clogs pores, and eventually causes blemishes and breakouts,” explains Peter Cox, Clinical Nutritionist at London’s Omniya Clinic.