If you’ve recently discovered a way to ‘drop ten pounds, fast!’ and ‘lose weight while you sleep!’, you’ve probably joined the latest fad diet craze that promises to help you reach your weight loss goals. Unfortunately, a crash diet could also make you lose your healthy skin and complexion.  

Fad diets promise drastic weight loss in a short period of time because they cut out several food groups and lower your caloric intake to near-starvation levels. While the diet might help you drop a few pounds, you could also end up losing that youthful complexion. Eating too little protein, or skimping on essential vitamins and minerals, can lead to several skin problems and make your skin more vulnerable to acne breakouts, an uneven skin tone and even broken facial capillaries.   

Common Skin Problems Associated with a Fad Diet  

Fad diets that cut out protein, fat, and essential vitamins can lead to several skin problems and make it difficult for your body to repair and heal naturally. Common skin problems associated with fad diets include:  

Acne breakouts – B-vitamin deficiencies in particular can lead to constant breakouts and poor skin healing afterwards.  

Dull complexion – not eating enough protein can reduce the skin’s resiliency and also makes it difficult for skin to heal. A dry and dull complexion can’t be ‘fixed’ with moisturizers alone, so eating more protein can get your skin back on track.  

Excessively dry skin – a lack of Vitamin A is usually the culprit behind dry or cracked skin, and diets that limit fresh fruit and vegetable intake may cause this uncomfortable skin condition.  

Scars that don’t heal – a lack of Vitamin E and Vitamin K can reduce your body’s ability to heal and repair damaged skin tissue with ease. Diets that eliminate healthy fats and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will leave you more vulnerable to scarring and damaged skin.  

Managing Skin After a Fad Diet  

When you finally stop the diet and get back on a healthy-eating plan, you may need to stimulate the skin cells to repair the damage. Fortunately, there are several skincare solutions available that can trigger collagen production, reduce the appearance of scars, and even give you a brighter, more youthful complexion.  

Microdermabrasion treatments provide deep exfoliation and can buff away dead skin cells after just one session.  Microdermabrasion can also help revitalize the skin and revive facial muscles to create a more youthful appearance.  

Laser skin resurfacing treatments can promote skin healing and reduce the appearance of scars. These non-surgical treatments penetrate the skin’s deepest layers to break down damaged tissue and help remove it from the body.  

Chemical peels can stimulate collagen production and trigger the skin renewal process. There are several types of chemical peels to choose from, and a series of treatments can be a valuable addition to your skin rejuvenation program. Thermage for facial skin can help tighten and tone the skin for the long-term. These treatments stimulate the muscles and layers of skin at a deeper level than microdermabrasion and facials, and the contractions can also help increase collagen production.  

Photofacials can help to restore a youthful complexion and brighten up the skin naturally. Photofacials help to reduce the appearance of age spots, scars and pigmentation and leave the skin healthy and glowing. Avoiding fad diets and eating well-balanced meals instead is a simple strategy for maintaining healthy looking skin. 

If you're experiencing skin problems after an unhealthy eating program, consider any of these skin rejuvenation treatments to build back those healthy cells and restore your youthful looks.  

Learn more about skin rejuvenation treatments in our information guide, or consult with a cosmetic surgeon in your area to learn how cosmetic enhancements can help you achieve healthy skin.