The best diet for dry skin type

 

You may have heard as a child that what matters is what's on the inside. And it's true: who you are matters more than how you appear.

That does not, however, imply that self-care, including skincare, is selfish. When it comes to improving your external look, the old adage may hold true.

“When it comes to skin and the surface of the skin, individuals may believe that they need to treat it with topical ointments,” explains Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of New York Nutrition Group and Seeds of Change partner. “A lot of what we perceive on the surface is a result of what's going on on the inside. A component of that is food.”

Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York, agrees.

“Diet largely influences the levels of various hormones in the body, and hormones govern many of the body's natural processes,” Green explains. “This indicates that hormone changes, which are impacted by food, are inextricably linked to general skin health and appearance.”

Green claims that eating more of certain foods and avoiding others might benefit your skin.

The ideal meals for you, however, will be determined by your skin type. This technique is akin to choosing a different moisturizer than a buddy with a different skin type.

Here are three experts' recommendations on what to eat based on your skin's requirements.

What is the best way to figure out your skin type?

Before you start putting groceries in your basket, you'll need to figure out your skin type.

Green recommends that you start by not applying any products after cleansing your skin and seeing how it appears after a few hours. There are a few indicators that might help you figure out which kind you have.

The following are the most common skin types:

dry \snormal \soily \scombination

Other problems, such as acne, flaking, or dullness, might occur with certain skin types.

If your skin looks like this, according to Green:

• shiny, you have oily skin
• flaky, red, or irritated, you have dry skin
• oily in some areas and dry in others, you have combination skin

What foods are best and worst for dry skin?

Your skin may be thirsty if it is dry.

Moskovitz says, “We want to think about hydration.” Drinking 2 liters of water each day can assist, but Moskovitz notes that foods like watermelon can also provide water.

Green also recommends hydrating your skin with fatty acids, such as those found in:

• avocado
• olive oil
• salmon

You'll also want to limit your consumption of dehydrating meals and beverages.

Caffeine and alcohol in excess can be drying, according to Moskovitz.

Everyone's tolerance for caffeine varies, but she recommends sticking to 400 mg per day (approximately two to three 8-ounce cups of coffee) and following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Trusted Source guidelines when it comes to alcohol.

However, dehydration isn't the only cause of dry skin.

“[Vitamin A and C] deficiency can lead to dry skin,” Green adds. She recommends increasing your intake of the following foods:

• sweet 
• potato 
• spinach broccoli