There’s no doubt that skin treatments and products go a long way toward improving the health and appearance of your skin. But healthy, problem-free skin starts from within. If you’re struggling with skin problems, the issue could have its roots in the foods you eat (or don’t eat!).

The team of skin experts at SculptMD Aesthetic Medical Spa in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, offers the best skin services and procedures available to help you achieve the healthiest skin possible. Yet if you’re eating the right balance of foods, you might not get the results you desire. Here’s what you need to know.

How your diet impacts your skin

Everything you consume becomes a part of you. When you drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods, the health benefits show up inside and outside. However, research shows the less you pay attention to a healthy diet, the more problems you may notice on your skin, including:

• Acne breakouts
• Eczema and psoriasis
• Premature aging

This is good news because it means that you have some control over your skin health and the appearance of your skin!

Keeping skin healthy and clear

Two of the best things you can do to keep your skin healthy is drinking plenty of fluids and eating a diet rich in the right kinds of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, plus plenty of antioxidants.

Generally, by focusing on whole foods, mostly plant diet rich in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, and phytoestrogens and avoiding all processed foods, high sugar foods, and refined grains, you can improve your overall health and your skin’s health.

Let’s take a closer look at how water and certain foods keep your skin healthy.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Your skin requires moisture to stay flexible and smooth. If you become even mildly dehydrated, you can see the lack of water in your skin as it will look tired, dry, and off-color. Aim for 6-8 glasses a day, and don’t forget you can “eat” your water by snacking on fruits and vegetables high in water content, like cucumber or watermelon.

For an added boost of moisture, consider adding HydraFacial treatments to your skincare routine. The HydraFacial system removes debris, dirt, and bacteria from your skin while hydrating it and giving you a healthy dose of peptides and antioxidants. There’s no recovery time, and HydraFacial appointments take less than an hour.

Eat the right foods for your health

Free radicals damage your skin’s collagen and elastin, creating premature aging and other skin issues. Antioxidants fight these free radicals and help keep your skin soft and smooth. Reach for a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, aiming for at least five servings every day. Foods especially high in antioxidants include spinach, papaya, kale, pumpkin, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

You’ll also want to get plenty of vitamin C, a super antioxidant that provides immune system support and helps skin problems heal. Vitamin C also helps promote collagen production and keeps your vascular system healthy, getting your skin plenty of blood. Some good sources of vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, broccoli, and guava.

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that helps keep away age spots and offers protection against skin cancer. Four Brazil nuts a day give you the right amount of selenium, but other sources include tomatoes, broccoli, and wheatgerm.

Zinc helps keep the glands in your skin that produce oil functioning normally and can be found in whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Vitamin E keeps your skin protected from damage at the cellular level and stimulates healthy skin cell growth. Almonds, avocado, and hazelnuts are all excellent sources of healthy vitamin E.

Consuming enough healthy fat helps keep your skin moisturized, supple, and elastic. Instead of processed fats, like oil, reach for whole-fat options, like avocados, nuts, and seeds. Some foods also contain omega fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory benefits. You can find these in linseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

Plant foods have natural chemicals called phytoestrogens. These amazing chemicals help keep your natural hormones balanced, which can have a tremendous impact on the health and appearance of your skin. Good sources of these powerful phytoestrogens include tofu, edamame, flax seeds, peaches, garlic, and sesame seeds.

Professional help for problematic skin

To boost the results of your better, more balanced diet, consider visiting a skin expert at SculptMD. We evaluate your skin and create a personalized recommendation of medical-grade services to help you get a healthy glow. We can also provide suggestions for other treatments to help you meet your aesthetic goals.

Ready to get problematic skin under control? Schedule an appointment at SculptMD in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, online or over the phone to learn more.