Clear skin has become the new holy grail. From ditching sugar to injecting your face with bee venom (apparently nature’s botox), there isn’t a method on planet Earth that hasn’t been tried and tested.
If you’ve spent your time in the “glowing skin” circles, you may have heard that cutting out dairy, while a big lifestyle shift, is a great way to get your skin in tip-top shape. This lifestyle movement has only been propelled into the stratosphere thanks to the boom of veganism and the endless dairy alternatives it has birthed.
And while making better choices to benefit the planet and its animals is an ethos that we should all carry with us, somewhere down the line, dairy (and its many products) have received the short end of the stick.
But just how strong is the link between dairy and enjoying clear skin?
The demonisation of dairy
According to registered associate nutritionist Kelly Light, dairy’s bad rep may be due to the environmental impact of the dairy industry and not its effects on our skin.
“Dairy is so often believed to be linked to skin problems, but the truth is that the evidence to support this is lacking,” says Light.
“If there is a link, then it is likely to apply only to a select group of individuals. While some people do cite dairy as a personal trigger for skin issues like acne, this is typically anecdotal,” she adds.
With so many products on the market, it can be difficult to study each one individually. And while many may associate their clear skin with saying goodbye to dairy, there’s not enough research to support this myth.
More than meets the eye
According to Healthline, what you eat isn’t the only thing that’s holding you back from achieving clear skin. Pollution, smoking, and poor sleep hygiene are all contributing factors that affect your skin.
Here are a few more elements that may be stopping you from achieving glowing skin:
- Stress: When we’re stressed, the body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can lead to breakouts.
- Skincare practices: Harsh skincare practices are frequently attributed to acne, including harsh cleansers and moisturisers.
- Sleep: Always get your beauty sleep. During your sleep cycle, your body is busy repairing and renewing damaged skin cells. Collagen levels are also replenished while you’re snoozing.
Picture: Pinterest
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