Keto Diet

Weight loss diets are an essential part of modern life. They help you achieve your optimal weight goals quickly. The last few years has seen a sudden rise in people opting to try the Ketogenic diet for quick weight loss results.

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet plan that was originally developed to aid people with epilepsy. However, in the last few decades, it has been practised as an effective way to lose weight. With the daily calorie breakdown of a keto diet being 5% carbohydrates, 75% fat and 20% protein you eliminate most grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, legumes and sweets, and replace it with fat. Your body starts to enter ketosis converting fat into ketone bodies—as an alternative energy source besides glucose derived from carbohydrates. Ketones from fat are the only fuel the brain can use under this diet plan.

However, a keto diet comes with both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of a regular keto diet plan is that it helps you lose weight quickly.  Clinical studies have shown that people who follow the keto diet lose twice as much weight over six months as people who follow a regular low-fat, low-calorie diet. The downside, however, as observed by studies by dermatologists and hair specialists, is the negative implication on your skin and hair.

Here are the possible effects of a keto diet plan on your skin, hair and body

Keto and your skin

As keto diets are high in fats, it increases the production of oil (sebum) in your skin which can increase the risk for acne, psoriasis, and eczema. A point to remember here is that everyone’s skin is different. So, while the keto diet has the potential to clear up acne for some it can bear an opposite effect on others and trigger a severe acne outbreak. The keto diet is also infamous for the side effect called ‘Prurigo Pigmentosa’ or ‘Keto Rash’.  A rare form of inflammatory dermatosis, Purigo Pigmentosa appears on people’s skin in the early stage ketosis.

Typically, a keto rash or acne can crop up on the cheeks, chin, jawline, and neck. Being part of the U-zone and it takes longer to resolve than teenage acne as this area has harder and more stubborn nodules than other areas of your face.

The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your clear skin to achieve your weight loss goals. A certified and experienced dermatologist can help you keep your skin clear and radiant. By analysing your skin structure your dermatologist will be able to prescribe the right treatments that reduce excess oil (sebum) production and prevents clogging of pores.  Your dermatologist will also be able to provide you with bespoke anti-inflammatory measures such as Acne Solution, Acne Scar Repair and Laser Treatments to reduce the occurrence of any acne or rash.

Keto and your hair

Hair loss is another side effect that you may experience as a result of a ketogenic diet. Drastic dietary changes can cause ‘Telogen Effluvium’, a temporary hair loss condition that can last for about two to three months. Furthermore, since your body does not get the required amount of protein this can trigger hair loss as hair is mostly made up of protein. Additionally, a ketogenic diet also causes your body to experience vitamin and mineral deficiencies, dietary stress, lack of biotin and unhealthy gut health—all triggers for hair loss.

Although hair loss is only a temporary setback of the keto diet, your dermatologist can help you determine the best possible treatments to maintain your luscious locks. An experienced dermatologist analyses your hair and may suggest hair strengthening therapies such as Mesotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy and Hair Cell Activation Therapies to say goodbye to your hair loss.

Keto and your body

As you lose drastic weight in the ketogenic diet, you tend to suffer from stretch marks throughout your body. The skin is pretty elastic and when stretched, the elastic fibres in the ‘dermis’, the middle layer of the skin weakens and breaks down at places, causing stretch marks. Stretch marks caused by a diet plan can crop up at unusual places in your body.  A visit to your experienced dermatologist can do the trick.

An expert dermatologist is best qualified to deal with stretch marks and can suggest a customized treatment plan just for you such as Mesotherapy, Stretch Mark Reduction Therapy, Carboxy Therapy and Bipolar Radiofrequency Therapy.

Start your diet plan with your doctor’s knowledge

Remember, we all have different body, skin and hair types and require specific treatments. It is important to maintain a balanced lifestyle with a good diet. A balanced diet can bring back the glow in your body, hair and skin.  Also, it is suggested that you consult a doctor before starting a diet plan such as keto. A doctor will analyse your body type and suggest a diet plan that will be beneficial for you.

Although being on a ketogenic diet may help you lose weight quickly, it also brings a series of complication to your skin, body and hair. If you are already on the keto diet or want to go on one, get an appointment with your dermatologist to help keep skin, body and hair complications at bay.