Complexion Changes with Weight Loss

iceicebebe

Hi!! I have been losing weight for about a month now... almost 2. I adopted an organic vegan diet (no processed foods), drink TONS of water and exercise regularly. I'm also outside for a few hours every day. In the past 6 weeks my skin has become AWFUL!!!! I have new pimples every single day!!

I'm 30 years old, have a one year old son and am currently breast feeding. I don't understand!

I would think that with eating so, so clean my skin would be amazing but its the worst its ever been!! What is going on??

lcelio22

I think you're body may be detoxing from all the bad stuff you were eating before. It happened to me. Don't worry, it'll get beater now that you're feeding your body the good stuff to heal

arditarose

You're outside more and exercising more. Are you leaving makeup on as you exercise and wearing sunscreen when outdoors? Cheap sunblock (which I prefer to use) clogs my pores like crazy.

Cherimoose

Are you taking B12? Large doses can worsen acne.

iceicebebe

No B12, no sunscreen and no makeup!!

healthygreek

I googled and found that eating soy products cause acne in some people.

iceicebebe

Well, crap. LOL

zdyb23456

My vote is for crazy post pregnancy hormones - especially since you are still breastfeeding. It took me months after I weaned my last baby for my hormones to regulate back to normal.

afatpersonwholikesfood

I've been eating healthier (more whole foods and produce but nothing too strict - I still get fast food occasionally, but there's no highly processed stuff in the house) and losing weight for a little over 3 months. I've also been outside more and exercising more. I've experienced the opposite. I've always had mild to moderate adult acne. My skin has been incredibly clear for the last couple of months.

I would vote either makeup + sunscreen + sweat or deficiencies from going vegan, but I'm no doctor.

ahoy_m8

zdyb23456 wrote: »

My vote is for crazy post pregnancy hormones - especially since you are still breastfeeding. It took me months after I weaned my last baby for my hormones to regulate back to normal.

+1

minties82

When dieting, my skin was very yucky until I went low carb...sorry! I mainly only eat meat, cheese, eggs and cream. It's silky smooth now.

Machka9

I just went the CI<CO route, and my skin cleared right up.

I was having some trouble with perimenopausal acne ... and that is gone.

Could be just a change in hormones ... could be the fact that I don't eat nearly as much sugary stuff as I used to ... could be just that I'm eating less food ... could be the slight increase in exercise ...

mommyvudu

I've broken out, too! It's clearing up, though. Not sure why but it happened over here...no pms, no new babies born or in the works, no working out with makeup on, no cheap sunscreen, nada.
Good news is, it should stop according to my face lol.

tomatoey

Do you work out at a gym? If so, how clean would you say it is, and do you shower right afterwards? Sweat + bacteria can make things rough for some people

pstegman888

Are you getting enough protein? With a vegan diet plus breastfeeding, you may be very low on protein intake. Talk to your doctor about what you need to maintain during breastfeeding. My nails, hair and skin have been fantastic since I upped my protein.

Sued0nim

Clean foods ..detoxing skin ...LOL

How low are you eating? Too low calories can affect your hormones...hormones can affect skin

Post-pregnancy hormones can affect skin

Nutritional minimums...if you've gone vegan make sure you're hitting minimum protein targets ...again hormonal and also cell repair

Also check diet for food intolerances ...soy / nightshades (tomatoes, white potatoes, aubergine eg eggplant, peppers etc) could impact on skin health ...although I've not seen the research just heard anecdotal

Orphia

lcelio22 wrote: »

I think you're body may be detoxing from all the bad stuff you were eating before. It happened to me. Don't worry, it'll get beater now that you're feeding your body the good stuff to heal

No. Hell no.

I avoid organic like the plague, and eat meat and dairy, and my skin is flawless.

To think that animal products are "toxic" is to ignore millions and millions of years of evolution.

iceicebebe

I'm extremely careful to make sure I am eating enough and getting proper nutrition. It is possible that it could be an increase in my soy consumption- although I've always eaten soy and never had an issue before. I do work out at the gym but it is EXTREMELY clean and I'm also a freak about hand washing pretty regularly and I don't touch my face much. But that's a good point to consider. I don't work out with make up on and I don't use sunscreen.

I guess the detox/pregnancy/breast feeding hormones make sense. I'll just see how things go over the next few weeks!

nvmomketo

I'm lucky. Since changing my way of eating, and eating at a deficit, my skin has cleared right up on both my face and body. And I used to always have at least one pimple on my face even though I washed a few times a day and even had medicated cream. Apparently sugar was my problem... I guess my mom was right. LOL

shabaity

Have you washed your pillow case recently I get a break out on one check from that when I dont.

Cherimoose

A higher carb intake could increase acne.

Do you take any supplements or meds?

Liftng4Lis

Sounds like hormones.

Kalikel

My money is on hormones. I don't know, of course, but that's what I'd guess.

Kimegatron

Yeah, I will go with hormones. Mine changed the pigment on some parts of my face. Lets just say that I didn't used to have a skin stache. Now I do. I die every time I look in the mirror. I die so hard. Thank you, make-up!

applebreeeeze

You're definitely not alone! When I started working out and drinking protein shakes regularly, my face was breaking out worse than ever. (I'm in my mid-20s and had never had acne problems before.) Not sure if it was something in the protein (soy, as others have said) or if it was just due to more sweat, but I ended up switching to a stronger face wash and it eventually leveled out.

tomatoey

applebreeeeze wrote: »

You're definitely not alone! When I started working out and drinking protein shakes regularly, my face was breaking out worse than ever. (I'm in my mid-20s and had never had acne problems before.) Not sure if it was something in the protein (soy, as others have said) or if it was just due to more sweat, but I ended up switching to a stronger face wash and it eventually leveled out.

Apparently, lifting weights temporarily spikes androgens; high testosterone has been linked to acne in men. I have no idea whether a little, temporary spike could make a difference for women, though.

(Hormonal acne in women that's related to pregnancy and menstruation usually occurs along the jaw.)

915kat

Omg I thought it was just me. I've been eating healthy and exercising since May and my face has broken out horribly! Especially in the T-zone area. I've always been the kind, even in puberty, to have minimal breakouts. I dont put on alot of makeup or leave it on when I do have it... ugh I have np solution but wanted you to know you're not alone,