Beauty Fix: Are You Flaking Out?

Here's your quick, all-natural beauty fix for the day: if your skin is flaking out, the remedy might not be in the drugstore aisle. Altering your diet by cutting out some foods and nutrients—and getting more of others—is your best bet. What are we talking about? Basically, dandruff, or flaky skin on the scalp, in the eyebrows, and behind the ears. It can also occur on the face, around the nostrils, and in the smile lines, causing a serious disruption to your normally smooth, healthy glow. Here are three quick tips for fixing this less-than-sexy beauty snafu:

1. Sugar fix:  A diet high in refined sugars and fats actually encourages yeast growth on the skin. Cut out processed fats and white carbs (this means white flour, white sugar, and high fructose corn syrup) to lower blood sugar levels and decrease inflammation and flaking of the skin.

2. Plant fix: In addition to avoiding what comes in a plastic wrapper, choose to eat more plants.  I tell my patients to eat from the rainbow—if you're eating seven colors of fruits and vegetables each day, you won't be hungry for much else.  A plant-rich diet will also make the body more alkaline (less acidic) by raising the pH above 7.0. This decreases inflammation throughout the body. Try it and trust me, you will be glowing within a matter of weeks! Oh, and your aches and pains may make their exit, too.

3. Fix the holes: Itchy flaky skin can also clue you into which nutrients might be missing from your diet. Selenium and zinc deficiencies have been cited as causing seborrheic dermatitis. In addition, adding the B vitamins, folate, and omega-3 oils (flax seed and fish oils) have all been shown to improve dandruff when a deficiency is present. A good quality supplement may be in order, in addition to a dietary rainbow approach to get you back on track with your optimal glowing skin.

Photo: bstylo.com