What science says about Paleo Diet For Skin Care

Nutritionists and medical experts have conflicting opinions on the popular Paleo diet, especially when it comes to skin health and anti-aging.

As a low-glycemic index diet, it reduces the consumption of glucose and fructose. This prevents the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that may modify the skin’s elasticity, keeping the skin wrinkle-free.  Supporters of the diet also maintain that the Paleo diet for skin health is beneficial because it provides foods that have beneficial nutrients and proteins for the skin and reduces inflammation in the body.

Many people posted success stories on the internet claiming that the Paleo diet helped clear their skin. They also felt their overall health improve after they followed a Paleo lifestyle.

Opponents of the Paleo diet for healthy skin argue that the diet is restrictive, expensive, and difficult to follow. Plus, the diet’s lack of dairy can lead to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. Thus, the diet may be harmful to the skin because a vitamin D deficiency may hinder the skin’s ability to repair itself.

Furthermore, some experts who oppose the Paleo diet for skincare believe that the diet may be harmful to the skin because of its high protein intake. They maintain that increased red meat consumption speeds up the skin’s aging process, which affects the skin’s overall vitality.

Opinion in favor of following the Paleo diet for skin health and anti-aging:

Supporters of the diet maintain that the Paleo diet is beneficial for overall skin health because it provides foods that are beneficial for skin health and eliminates foods that cause inflammation.

As a low-glycemic index diet,  it prevents the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that may modify the skin’s elasticity. AGEs form when glucose or fructose combine with other proteins. They can later bind to collagen and modify its structure, affecting the skin’s elasticity.  Thus, by reducing the amount of sugar in the diet and eliminating sources of unhealthy fructose like high fructose corn syrup, the Paleo diet helps maintain skin health.

It also encourages the increased consumption of protein such as red meat which contains collagen, the protein that maintains skin health and provides it with structural integrity. It also encourages the consumption of fruits and vegetables which contain vitamins and minerals that are essential for skin health.

Experts believe that the Paleo diet also helps the skin by eliminating cereal grains from the diet. Removing these foods eliminates gluten from the diet which helps heal the gut and prevents inflammation.   
In addition, people who tried the Paleo diet also felt that their skin looked healthier. Many of them posted their success stories online claiming that the Paleo diet helped improve their skin tone, eased their skin dryness, and reduced wrinkle formation.

Opinion against following the Paleo diet for skin health and anti-aging:

Opponents of the Paleo diet for skincare argue that the diet may be harmful to the skin because it encourages the increased consumption of protein and eliminates certain food groups like dairy. These two factors may cause the skin to age faster. 
Dr. Michael Elstein, a Fellow of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, who is passionate about anti-aging supports the claim that increased protein consumption is detrimental to skin health.

In an interview with the Daily Mail Australia, he said, “'When you have a lot of animal protein, it switches on a chemical in the body called mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) which interferes with insulin function… when we undermine the function of insulin, it contributes to the speeding up of the ageing process.”

Opponents of the Paleo diet for healthy skin argue that there is not enough evidence to indicate that the Paleo diet prevents aging or that is beneficial for skin overall health. Accordingly, they cannot support the claim that the Paleo diet is beneficial for the skin before they examine the diet's effects on the skin properly. 

Experts also point out that the diet is restrictive, expensive, and difficult to follow. Plus, the diet’s lack of dairy can lead to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. This may be harmful to the skin because Vitamin D helps the skin repair itself and prevents the skin from aging.

Nevertheless, if people monitor their vitamin D levels and protein intake, some experts concede that the diet may offer some benefits for overall health because it encourages healthy eating habits, such as eating organic fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed meats, high sugar foods, and refined carbohydrates.

Published: September 2020