Skin Conditions

What connects these conditions

Skin is where several internal processes become visible. Acne, eczema, psoriasis, hives and dryness look similar from outside and have very different causes underneath — which is why one approach does not fit them all.

Barrier problems — eczema, dry skin — are about the skin losing water and letting irritants in. Immune-driven problems — psoriasis, hives — are about the immune system reacting. Hormonal problems — most adult acne — are about oil production and follicle behaviour.

Where diet has real evidence

• High-glycaemic diets and acne. This is the strongest dietary skin link there is. Sugar and refined carbohydrate raise insulin, which raises androgen activity and oil production.
• Skim milk and acne. Reasonable evidence, and specifically skim rather than full-fat, which is odd but consistent across studies.
• Omega-3 for inflammatory skin conditions. Modest but real.
• Alcohol and psoriasis. A well-documented trigger.
• Hydration and dry skin. Water helps, but a damaged barrier loses it again. Moisturiser matters more than drinking more water.

What does not hold up

Chocolate and greasy food do not cause acne. This is one of the most persistent food myths there is, and it has not survived testing.

"Detox" does not clear skin. Your liver and kidneys do that job continuously. No tea, juice or supplement improves on them.

Eliminating foods without testing rarely helps and often narrows your diet for nothing. Food allergy genuinely causes hives; it rarely causes eczema in adults.