Of course it's widely known that junk food isn't the best for your skin and pizza certainly falls into that category. But, do you really know all the weird ways that eating pizza can affect your skin? If you're addicted to pizza, discovering how a slice of pie can affect your skin is a must.
Now I'm not saying that everybody should give up junk food altogether, transform into a raw gluten free vegan, or convert to a mostly green juice based diet. I adore pizza as much as the next person — I take mine with vegan cheese for anyone buying — and aside from chocolate, it's literally my favorite food. But, it's always good to educate yourself on what you're actually putting into your body. Granted, some days you don't give AF about being healthy, we've all been there, but if you're someone who's wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle, it might be time to evaluate your eating habits.
On the other hand, if you suffer with certain skin conditions and different types of food make your skin flare up when you eat them, you too will be interested in finding out how pizza can affect your skin. So, I spoke to a bunch of experts to get a slice of the info on the weird ways that pizza can affect your skin.
"Pizza can definitely affect the quality of your skin," says Eileen Bischoff esthetician at Eve Salon, in an email to Bustle, "this being because the ingredients that are used in pizza (such as dairy and spices) stimulate the sebaceous gland, which is responsible for generating oil into the hair follicles that lubricates your skin and can cause breakouts."
On a similar note, Dr. Hadley King, dermatologist at NYC's SKINNEY Medspa, tells Bustle over email, "Dairy in the cheese as well as the glycemic index of the crust can both contribute to acne."
"Eating pizza is fine for your skin unless you rub it onto your skin," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky via email, "the oils and spices might have reactions." Next time you're eating pizza, it might be worth trying to avoid getting pizza grease around your mouth so as not to make trouble for your skin. In addition to this, don't forget to wash your hands after eating pizza — especially before touching your face — to eliminate the chances of accidentally wiping residue onto your skin.
There is another point entirely that's definitely worth considering. Dr. Prystowsky adds, "Too much casein (milk protein) may aggravate acne or cancer risk but a few slices should be fine."
The next time you tuck into a heavenly slice of pizza, be careful not to get any oil on your chops by accident. If you want to be really careful about not breaking out, why not order your pizza with dairy free cheese instead to avoid casein? It is Veganuary after all!
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