Forums: September 2011 Kickstart Forum: Skin problems on vegan diet?
Created on: 09/13/11 11:49 AM Views: 1535 Replies: 9
magda Joined: 09/09/11 Posts: 10	Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 11:49 AM Hi All I've been "flirting" with vegan diet on and off for the past year. I'm generally healthy, have no weight to lose and my omnivore diet has also been rather OK (by mainstream standards at least). But some time ago I read "The China Study" and since then I have been trying to avoid meat and dairy. I have my ethical reasons for it as well. My diet is not so terribly low fat, I love all kinds of nuts so I usually have a handful a day, a PB sandwich, that kind of thing. However, I noticed one thing. Since puberty (which was quite some time ago ) I've had problems with acne, but I got it more or less under control. But each time I quit meat, fish and dairy I notice that my skin condition actually gets worse. Not very very dramatic, but worse all the same. Other than that, I feel OK. I don't experience any major changes in my energy levels etc. Does anyone have any suggestions as to possible reasons for this? I eat quite a lot of soy (no fake meat, but I love tofu and drink mainly soymilk as milk substitute, because it's almost impossible to get almond milk where I live), generally I avoid processed foods, no chips, no coke, no sweets (only dark chocolate sometimes) etc. I'd appreciate your suggestions
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tinabean Joined: 09/08/10 Location: Pasadena, TX Posts: 113	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 12:39 PM Is there anything that you consume more of or only consume when you go veg? I can't really speak for acne, but I do have rosacea and very sensitive skin so I know how difficult it can be to pin down triggers sometimes. The year after I went lacto-ovo, I started having rashes across my chest. My mom was sure it was a soy/tofu allergy but it ended up being due to a newfound love of carrots (which are no problem in small, occasional doses). I'm sure someone will post and suggest that it is possibly a detox issue, which it might be. Change is a process. But if it doesn't pass soon, I would suggest looking at how your diet has changed and try eliminating the things that have increased, and then adding them back slowly one at a time to see if the problem returns.
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lisasays Joined: 09/07/11 Posts: 39	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM It could be your body cleaning out toxins maybe? Most people have the opposite happen and notice their skin clearing up. I no longer need ProActive
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM Wow, I agree with Tina that it might be an allergy. Maybe even a soy allergy! I know that my acne practically disappeared when I quit dairy, but I was one of the lucky ones. If it isn't dairy, the other major culprits are sugar, soy, maybe gluten? Molly Horn
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magda Joined: 09/09/11 Posts: 10	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 2:33 PM Thanks for all your replies Well... it looks like soy may be the bad guy... Even when I was non-veg I drank soymilk, because I like the taste. But I didn't eat tofu, soy yogurt etc., so my consumption increased a lot. I have also read stories of people who got rid of their skin issues after going veg, so I was secretly hoping this would happen to me. Not the case though I'll try cutting down on soy and see what happens. Thanks again and have a nice day
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2087	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 2:37 PM It kinda makes sense that some people would have acne type issues if they move to having a lot of soy. Those phytoestrogens might be playing havoc with the endocrine/hormonal system. --Deb R
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theodore Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:29 PM Bugsmom wrote: It kinda makes sense that some people would have acne type issues if they move to having a lot of soy. Those phytoestrogens might be playing havoc with the endocrine/hormonal system. --Deb R More so than dairy products ?? Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2087	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:33 PM theodore wrote: Bugsmom wrote: It kinda makes sense that some people would have acne type issues if they move to having a lot of soy. Those phytoestrogens might be playing havoc with the endocrine/hormonal system. --Deb R More so than dairy products ?? Not necessarily moreso but different things affect different people differently. That's why I qualified it with "some people" and "might". I KNOW that soy milk and tofu et al affect my hormones where dairy didn't - but soy doesn't affect my digestive tract the way dairy does. I just skip dairy and avoid/minimize soy and get away from both situations. --Deb R
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lisasays Joined: 09/07/11 Posts: 39	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 4:28 PM If it is an allergy, your skin will itch and break out in hives. I have a soy allergy and it is misery if I eat anything soy. Look for the main allergic reactions: itchy skin, throat and eyes, hives (which ITCH terribly) and swollen tongue, hands and face. I would cut down on soy anyway. My overconsumption caused my allergy.
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WhisperCat1 Joined: 09/01/11 Posts: 32	RE: Skin problems on vegan diet? Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 9:39 AM My skin cleared up when I went vegan, but then again, I'm old, LOL. However, the one thing that can still bring about a break out is stress. Never discount stress as an acne trigger.
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