Skin is the largest organ. Did you know that it plays a vital role in your overall health and wellness? It is protecting what’s inside of you by keeping water and nutrients in and keeps the harmful bacteria and viruses out. The skin helps maintain your body temperature and makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun. There are also lots of nerve endings in the skin that help you sense the outside world and avoid damage from things that are too hot, too cold, or very sharp!
Skincare isn’t only something we need to do on the outside by using lotions, creams, and ointments. What we eat and drink affects all of our vital organs—including our skin. Here is a list of some of the essential nutrients you need to keep your skin nourished so it can play its many essential roles and look its very best.
Foods that are good for your skin
Your skin is a very complex organ and needs various nutrients every day to stay healthy. Here are some of my top recommendations.
Water
You may not consider water as an essential nutrient, but it is. Water plays many important roles in your body. It’s the main component in your cells and fluids. It helps you to maintain your body temperature and it provides shock absorption for your joints.
When it comes to our skin, water is just as essential. Your skin has three layers. The outermost layer is the one you see and feel, it is called the epidermis. The middle layer is the dermis and then under that layer is your hypodermis. When your epidermis (top layer) doesn’t have enough water, your skin feels rough and loses elasticity. The water needed comes from the inside. One study found that when participants who normally don’t drink a lot of water, increased their intake, their skin became more hydrated and their skin’s “extensibility” improved within 2 weeks. Drinking more water can help skin hydration and may be particularly beneficial if you have dry skin or don’t drink enough water.
How much water do you need every day? According to the Mayo Clinic, women should aim for 11.5 cups of fluids per day, while men should aim for 15.5 cups per day. These fluids can come from drinking water or other beverages, and can even come from water-rich foods like soups, fruits, and vegetables. I always recommend to my clients to drink half their body weight in ounces of water to ensure they are getting what their body needs. However, personal needs may be higher if you sweat a lot from exercising or if you live in a hot, humid environment as I do! You may even need more water if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are prone to urinary or digestive tract conditions like kidney stones, vomiting, or diarrhea. For more on hydration, check out my post here.
Protein
Protein is an essential macronutrient. You need quite a bit of it every day. Unlike micronutrients like vitamins where you need much smaller amounts every day. Protein makes up a number of things in your body including your cells, immune system antibodies, and the enzymes needed for thousands of reactions (including digestion). Your body’s main structure is also made from proteins. This includes your bones, muscles, organs . . . and you guessed it, skin. Different proteins are made by combining different building blocks called amino acids.
Your skin is made up of several different proteins. For example, collagen and elastin are very plentiful and build up the structure of your skin. Over time, and with exposure to the elements, your body’s ability to produce collagen decreases. Keratin is another important protein in your skin. Keratin makes up the outer epidermis layer giving it rigidity and enhancing its barrier protection.
The recommended daily amount of protein is based on your body weight. For every 20 pounds you weigh, you should try to get just over 7 grams of protein each day. This means a person who weighs 140 pounds needs about 50 grams of protein per day, while someone who weighs 200 pounds would need about 70 grams of protein per day. Get protein in meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs. You can even get protein in some plant-based sources including soy, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and even vegetables like corn, broccoli, and asparagus. For more on protein, check out this post.
Essential fatty acids
There are two types of fatty acids that are essential nutrients for our health and our skin. They are linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic acid (omega-3). Omega-3 fatty acids in particular are anti-inflammatory and have been linked to many health benefits including improvements in rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, heart disease, and psoriasis, to name a few.
Increasing the intake of linoleic acid is associated with lower levels of skin dryness and thinning as skin ages. On the other hand, a lack of fatty acids is linked to increased water loss from the skin, drying it out and causing weakness in the protective outer barrier. I am definitely needing to increase my intake!
You can get these essential fatty acids from eating fish like salmon and tuna, shellfish, nuts like walnuts, seeds including flax, chia, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame, oils such as soy and canola, leafy vegetables, and avocados. You can also obtain these fatty acids in fish oil supplements which also may contain some other vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and has several jobs including making other nutrients more absorbable and available. It is a water-soluble antioxidant vitamin that plays many roles in your body, including in skin health.
A deficiency of Vitamin C (scurvy) results in skin lesions, as well as skin that is easily bruised and slow to heal. This is, in part, because of Vitamin C’s role in stabilizing the protein collagen. Another sign of Vitamin C deficiency in the skin affects hair follicles and can cause “corkscrew hairs.” These are examples of why Vitamin C is so important for skin health.
Every day you should aim for at least 75 mg of Vitamin C. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources. In particular, bell peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, kiwis, blackcurrants, potatoes, rosehip, and parsley.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a group of essential vitamins called tocopherols. They are fat-soluble antioxidants that work synergistically with Vitamin C. When given together, vitamins C and E (and zinc) can speed up wound healing. Deficiency of Vitamin E is linked to red, dry skin.
Vitamin E is often applied topically on the skin to reduce redness and some of the effects of sun damage. Ingesting Vitamin E helps the skin from the inside by protecting collagen and fats from breaking down. One clinical study successfully improved symptoms of dermatitis (skin inflammation) in participants who took Vitamin E supplements over the course of several months.
The recommended daily allowance for Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is 15 mg. You can get Vitamin E in vegetables, oils like olive oil, nuts like almonds and hazelnuts, spinach, broccoli, corn, kiwis, and soy.
Skincare beyond nutrition
While nutrition is essential, and I’ve covered my top 5 recommendations above, don’t forget other important skincare practices that help protect and nurture your skin.
- Use gentle cleansers and warm water to keep skin clean. Don’t use hot water. I like this cleanser from dimebeauty.com.
- Moisturize after taking a shower or washing your hands.
- Avoid things that bother your skin such as harsh cleansers, fragrances, and irritating fabrics.
- If you have allergies or intolerances (e.g., to gluten or pollen), avoid those
- Limit your sun exposure and use sunscreen as appropriate
- Be physically active
- Try to get enough quality sleep
- Use a humidifier and wear gloves when the weather is dry and cold
- Avoid tobacco
Bottom Line
The nutrients you consume feed your whole body—including your skin. As your largest organ with many critical roles, your skin needs a variety of different nutrients every single day. Water, protein, and essential fatty acids are important macronutrients. While the antioxidant vitamins C and E are among some of the micronutrients your skin needs to heal and stay healthy.
In addition to nutrition, caring for the outside of your skin is also important. Using gentle cleansers, warm water, and moisturizers, and avoiding irritants and allergens will help. If you have any medical concerns with your skin, see your healthcare professional.
Is your skin suffering from a lack of nutrition? Need help to identify what foods your skin needs? Are you looking for ways to implement delicious skin-boosting foods into your day-to-day life? Book an appointment with me to see if my program can help you.
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