I know this is my second question to post on here today lol, but I am just in need of yall's knowledge! Before I changed my diet/way of eating I had relatively dry skin on my face, it was actually pretty bad. But since I became a vegetarian and started eating lots of fruits and veggies and as of about 3 weeks ago pretty much cut out soda, my skin has become oily! not oily in a good way where its just moisturizing my face, but oily in a bad way where its making me break out and my skin looks shiny. Has anyone else experienced this? I know changing your diet can change your skin, is it possible my skin is overcompensating with the moisturization and eventually it will figure it out? I am thinking about going to the dermatologist to get it figured out. But, if it is going to go away, then I dont want to spend the money (i know that none of you can really tell me, but it would be nice to know if anyone has experienced this).

Hey,

I'm not an expert - I think they hang out in the Harsh Truth - but I am a veggie and have seen my share of dermatologists. It's possible that your body is detoxing - I know whenever I start on a new Rx acne med or diet, my skin gets worse before it gets better (they even say this in the prescription information). If I were you, I'd wait and use over the counter Stridex type stuff (benzoyl peroxide washes are really good too) for a month or so before seeing a dermatologist - if it's not better, then look into the prescription stuff. HTH.

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Maybe its a hormonal thing? I have heard that your body produces more of some hormones when you weigh more, so now youve lost quite a bit of weight that could be changing? Im really not sure but its a thought, like naomicnt said youre probably better off experimenting with fash washes and such before shelling out to see a dermetologist, unless its doesnt go away.

Hope it clears up soon!

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Your skin could be changing for a number of reasons.

It is quite controversial as to whether dietary habits affect breakouts/acne. So, your diet is probably having less effect than environmental factors. For example, if you've started exercising more, oil production can increase, pores can clog, etc. Even the weather (and the heat/air conditioning) can affect the level of dryness in your skin. Hormones (particularly testosterone and thyroid hormones) can also play a role in skin condition. Consider all these.

And, you are correct, there is a certain amount of compensation that happens. If your skin has been dry, your body may pump up the oil production for self-moisturization.

My recommendation is this. Keep your skin clean by using a facial cleanser morning and night (and after workouts). Use a non-commedogenic/water-based moisturizer. You may think a moisturizer is the last thing you need, but if your skin is getting moisture from an external source, the oil production will slow. If you still see breakouts after a few weeks, go see the derm...there's no need to put up with the stuff long-term.

Good luck.

Jen

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i have the opposite problem, the skin on my face has gone really dry. i have a tendency towards dry skin anyway, but im having to plaster moisturiser on frequently. ive also started taking fish oil capsules which seem to be helping a bit. i thinks cos ive gone from a very high fat diet, to one which is much lower. slim

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lol you literally just reminded me to take my fish oil capsules, I just started taking them yesterday. I have been trying to eat more of the good fats because I realized I wasn't getting in enough fat, so I have started putting olives on my salad and eating a few almonds a day, then of course the fish oil capsules have fat in them as well. Thanks for the responses everyone, I guess I will just wait it out, probably until I go home for the summer and if it hasnt figured itself out by then, I will go to a dermatologist.

I know that it isnt a thyroid problem because I just recently had my thyroid checked and it was in perfect working order , it may be the exercising more, but I do wash my face in the shower right after I exercise. So, my best guess is that it is my change in diet, so hopefully my body will get it figured out. I have been focusing lately on keeping track of how much water I drink, so maybe by drinking more which will moisturize my skin, my body will figure out that it no longer has to overcompensate....who knows lol. I am hoping that it is just getting worse before it gets better, like you said Naomicnt. I would love to have beautiful glowing skin

Right now I am using Neutrogena face wash thats for oily skin and moisturizer, so I will try that for a few weeks and then possibly try something else (if anyone has any suggestions, let me know). Thanks!

Oh my gosh I have been wondering about this as well! I've never had perfect skin, except for during the summer when I'm tan, but I have recently cut out all beverages except for water. I'm eating relatively healthily, and I have just started to exercise. But my face constantly has this sheen! I don't have any pimples, but it just seems as though I have increased oil production. It's confusing, and the only thing that seems to make sense to me is maybe detoxification like someone else mentioned. I don't know though, I guess I'll just see where it's at in a few weeks.

Also, I'm showering about twice a day, and whereas I always used to use face lotion, I just don't need to anymore, or I can't rather, because if I give it an hour, my face has that annoying sheen. gah!

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Christmas Challenge CW 150 GW 130