To Vegan or Not to Vegan for Improved Skin Health

​A simple Google search will bring up dozens of links promoting veganism as the cure all for chronic eczema, psoriasis and acne as well as miracle weight loss and a host of other health conditions.  Many of my clients ask me whether they should become vegan to support their skin health.  The not so simple answer to that question is ‘well, it depends’. 

For client’s whose skin issues are triggered by two of the main listed food intolerances: dairy and egg, going vegan and so removing them from their diet, absolutely does result in their symptoms such as eczema, psoriasis or acne abating. 

For others who have intolerances to plant foods such as wheat, the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and potatoes) or high histamine foods such as legumes and fermented vegetables, going vegan can make their symptoms much worse. 

This can be difficult to accept, especially if a person is choosing to become vegan from an ethical, religious or environmental point of view. I have worked with clients who have come to me after having transitioned to plant-based eating, seen their skin health worsen, started to remove foods themselves and finding themselves depleted, exhausted and surviving on a very restricted diet.

All is not lost. 

It is possible to follow a well-balanced plant-based diet even with triggers to some of the staples of a vegan diet.  The first step is to identify what your true triggers are.  From experience I have found that many clients who start working with me, think that they have multiple food intolerances, and it is true that many foods seem to trigger an exacerbation of their symptoms.  During our time together we work to identify the individual’s true triggers and work to heal the gut lining. In most cases there are very few true triggers, but these damage the gut lining and result in a cascade of reactions to other foods. 

The bottom line is that we are all individual. Each of us reacts to our food, our lifestyle and our environment in a completely different way. 

Over the month of January I will be publishing useful information on how to best navigate a plant-based diet for skin health and will be publishing weekly plant-based recipes. 

You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram. 

If you sign up to my newsletter via my website: www.jessicafonteneaunutrition.com you will receive a printable summary of all of the information and more, plus four bonus skin-friendly plant-based recipes.  My newsletter is published each last Saturday of the month. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

On Saturday 30th January 2021 I will also be publishing a new free eBook:  How to Identify Which Foods Trigger YOUR Atopic Eczema (dermatitis). If you want to get a copy, please sign up for my newsletter as above and you will receive a copy as soon as it is published. 

Take care and may you remain itch-free. 

Jessica