At-home tests claim they can identify the foods behind your complexion complaints – and provide a solution. But does the science stack up?
You know her. That friend who swore off sugar and insists her skin has never looked better. But before you roll your eyes and reach for the retinol, know this: what you put in your mouth can show up on your face, according to research. And it’s this very science that’s fuelling a proliferation of companies offering food-sensitivity tests and personalised diet plans that pledge to leave your skin smooth and blemish-free.
These tests rely on a small blood sample, sometimes self-collected, that companies claim can be used to assess your reactivity to certain foods, leaving you with a laundry list of items to slash from your diet immediately. The promise? Banishing them from your fridge can transform your complexion. And a tiny skin prick is such a small price to pay for clearer skin, right? Right?
To find out, we spoke to experts to get the truth about how food intolerances and allergies – as well as your diet more generally – affect your complexion. Their answers might save you some blood (and maybe some sweat and tears, too).
Food for thought
Let’s start with what we know for sure. In some cases, what you consume does have an immediate and measurable impact on the state of your skin. Take a true food allergy, for example. ‘When you ingest something you’re allergic to, the immune system recognises the offender as something foreign because your body has developed immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibodies against it,’ says Purvi Parikh, an immunologist who works with the Allergy & Asthma Network. ‘The IgE antibodies attach to mast cells, which then release histamine and recruit even more immune cells,’ Dr Parikh continues. ‘This can cause hives, rashes, itching and, in severe cases, breathing trouble, a drop in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps – the symptoms of anaphylaxis.’ The severity depends on the individual, but the best treatment is adrenaline (probably in the form of an EpiPen). If you suspect a food allergy is behind your bouts of redness or splotchiness, see a dermatologist who specialises in skin allergies. And know that a food allergy is different from a food intolerance (more on that to come).
Are you what you eat?
Aside from allergies, there are certain foods (think: sugary snacks, fizzy drinks and foods high in saturated fat) that can exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea or psoriasis, experts suggest. For people who aren’t affected by these conditions, it’s less about avoiding individual offenders than rethinking the carbohydrates you fuel your body with. Diets rich in high glycaemic index (high-GI), low-fibre carbs – such as white bread, cakes, biscuits and most packaged cere
