- Veganism is a diet that abstains from consuming animal products, such as meat, dairy, and eggs.
- Going vegan can actually benefit your skin because it restricts the intake of dairy and encourages the consumption of foods high in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables.
- A restrictive diet like veganism can also lead to a repetitive diet that doesn’t involve essential nutrients, which can negatively affect the skin.
- Cutting out dairy and eating hormone-free meat can also make a big change to the skin if you’re not ready to go vegan.
Ever wonder just how much food can affect your skin? A lot, actually — especially for people who decide to go vegan. Those who subscribe to the diet do not eat any animal products, which means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, and no honey.
Veganism has sparked a lot of buzz in the recent years, as new research has claimed that there are major health benefits to a plant-based diet. The veggie-centered diet also offers environmental benefits, since not eating meat or dairy can reduce your carbon footprint. But now there’s another argument in favor of going vegan: not eating animal products can improve your skin.
But does giving up meat, dairy, eggs, and honey really do anything for your skin? The answer isn’t a simple "yes" or "no," said dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali.
"I think we are starting to scratch the surface on how diet affects the skin." Bhanusali told INSIDER. However, after speaking with Dr. Bhanusali and dermatologist Papri Sarkar, it is clear that there are several benefits to giving up animal products when it comes to your skin. However, there are also some risks that could negatively impact your complexion as well.
Removing dairy and eating more fruits and vegetables can improve your skin.
The worst food culprit when it comes to skin issues — acne in particular — is dairy, Sarkar told INSIDER.
"Studies have shown that removing dairy from patients’ diets improves their acne," Sarkar said. "This relationship is especially strong with dairy and lower fat milks. In my experience, I've found that if patients go off dairy for a month, a significant number of them with mild to moderate acne see improvement."
Beyond just helping with stubborn pimples, going vegan can also improve your complexion, said Sarkar. Because a vegan diet typically requires that you eat vegetables and fruits rather than dairy, meat, and (most) processed snacks, the natural antioxidants can impact the way your skin, she said.
I do find that patients who follow a primarily plant-based diet report brighter complexions and less bloating of the face," she said. Bhanusali agreed, noting that several of his patients have also self-reported brighter skin and better texture after making the switch to veganism.
Both Bhanusali and Sarkar also note that usually, many of those who choose to go vegan end up living healthier lifestyles because of it — which inevitably shows up on their skin.
"In some cases I find that when patients decide to go vegan, they are actually doing an overhaul of their wellbeing practices," she said. "In those cases I definitely see a difference. More exercise, better skin hygiene, and better diet all goes towards healthier, more glowing skin."
Bhanusali stated that over time, a healthy plant-based diet will positively impact your skin. "The better you eat, the stronger and better your body looks overall," he said.
But deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can negatively impact your skin.
The restriction of animal products also presents the risk of some negative effects on the skin as well, Sarkar said. For instance, she said that sometimes people forget to include fruits and veggies in their diets and end up seeing those poor dietary choices in their complexion.
"If you go vegan and are primarily eating simple carbohydrates, I think that the benefits of going vegan decrease," she said. "Having pasta with sweetened tomato sauce all day without any other beneficial vegan ingredients won't help much."
In addition to sugar-induced acne, decreasing the variety of foods you eat and getting less vitamins and minerals can cause skin changes.
"Deficiencies of various vitamins can cause darkening of the skin, dark circles under eyes, and brittle hair and nails," Sarkar said. Bhanusali he typically checks his vegan patients for their iron levels and B12 levels, as deficiencies in those can lead to pale skin, dark circles under your eyes, and even hair loss. He also recommends that vegans supplement their diets with omega 3 fatty acids, which are typically found in eggs and fish.
There are ways to make a change even if you’re not ready to go vegan.
So there are some risks involved when it comes to going vegan, but those can be resolved by making sure that you’re getting all of the nutrients you need. But if you’re still unsure about giving up burgers forever, you can make changes to your diet to improve your skin.
"Cut out the skim milk and processed foods," Bhanusali said. Sarkar said to also make sure that any dairy and meat you eat is hormone-free, so it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Ultimately, changing your diet is a very personal decision and it shouldn’t be made just because of your skin, Bhanusali said. There’s still more work to be done in terms of research on this topic as well, he noted.
"We are just scratching the surface of the links between food and our bodies and as more research comes out, it'll become evident that we need to make more mindful choices for our health and wellbeing." In the meantime, if you’re thinking about taking the leap, here’s a starter guide on how to make your meals vegan.