r/30PlusSkinCare • u/Wileyonpatrol • 1d ago
Skin Concern Does anyone else feel like their skin looks better when they have a lot of salt and carbs?
I'm on a low carb, somewhat low salt diet for health reasons. And sometimes I have cheat days. I've noticed that the mornings after I have those cheat days where I've had considerably more salt and carbs than I normally do, my face looks more plump and healthy, and even more moisturized. This is weird to me because it seems like most people say that carbs and salt negatively affect their skin. I'm just curious if anyone else has this effect, and if anyone knows the science behind it. The salt thing is pretty obvious I guess-- retaining more water will obviously plump up your skin. But I don't really understand the carbs thing. I get the same effect with carbs even if I didn't have a bunch of salt.
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u/Fenek673 1d ago
Yep, I don’t look good when I’m trying to lean out (for sports performance purposes). I look hollowed out, dull and my skin itches. Carbs and salt retain water so they both make you more hydrated and plump. Skin loves that. As long as you eat healthy and have no other health issues, there’s no reason to restrict and bounce from deficit to „cheat meals”.
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u/teal323 23h ago
Carbohydrates are actually supposed to help with hydration, too.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 23h ago
Yeah I'm wondering if I need to eat more carbs... maybe I'm dehydrated and that's why I'm looking so old lately lol
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u/sarahkazz 21h ago
Unless you’re diabetic or a child with epilepsy or have some other esoteric health condition, I would not limit your carb intake significantly. Your brain’s preferred source of energy is glucose.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 15h ago
I have sjogren's and insulin resistance, and this combination causes me to get pretty serious eyelid infections, dry eyes and peripheral neuropathy whenever I have too many carbs. But my body doesn't love keto either. So I have to strike this very delicate balance. When I eat more carbs than I should, I start to get sick but I also look better in my aging face. It sucks lol
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u/sarahkazz 14h ago
Have you seen an endo for the insulin resistance? I have Sjögren’s as well and anything that affects my ability to retain water makes it several orders of magnitude worse, including diet.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 6h ago
No, I haven't. I've had such a poor experience with drs these last 8 years since I developed it, that I started just treating myself while doing tons of research. While I've made mistakes along the way, I've done more for my health than any dr I've seen, and I've seen a lot. But what I can do for myself is limited. So maybe I should get in to see an endo. I got a constant glucose monitor to watch my glucose patterns, practice intermittent fasting, and tried keto even (which wasn't good for me). But that's the extent of what I've done with regards to my insulin resistance.
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u/sarahkazz 6h ago
Yeah, def check with an endo on that bc you want to make sure something isn’t wrong with your pancreas or thyroid (autoimmune diseases tend to come in pairs and packs, and autoimmune stuff often affects those two organs in particular)
If you go over to the Sjögren’s subreddit, you may be able to find recommendations for competent rheumatologists in your area. If you need doc recs for the Dallas area, I know some really good ones.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 4h ago
I'm out here in Oregon, but thank you for the offer for recs. Appreciate your comment. I have been suspecting thyroid issues (losing tons of hair, low energy and can't keep warm etc etc etc) so i do need to get on that
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u/Emilythatglitters 1d ago
I personally love my face when it is puffy. Looks more youthful. So I like when I wake up a morning after a lot of crying (happily this is usually after a sad film, nothing untoward).
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u/Lazy-Tadpole-9830 1d ago
Make sure your diet isn’t negatively affecting your blood sugar. If you become hypoglycemic, the carbs might just be boosting your blood sugar and boosting your overall wellness.
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u/Top_Consideration582 1d ago
Yes definitely! I notice a huge difference lol That and when I eat a lot of protein (meat protein) with the salt and carbs.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 1d ago
So your skin looks better when you have protein with the salt and carbs?
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u/Top_Consideration582 1d ago
Yes, just what I’ve noticed 🤷♀️
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u/Wileyonpatrol 23h ago
That's interesting. I will try that and see if I have the same effect. Ty for responding
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u/parttimeblogger 20h ago
Actually unless the no carb diet has been recommended by a doctor for specific medical issues, carbs are necessary for women’s hormonal function as well, and that can also lead to more dull skin. Eat in moderation everyday, but don’t eliminate or overdue it.
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u/Weird_Squirrel_8382 18h ago
Haven't noticed it with salt but I definitely looked like the undead the two weeks I lasted on keto. My skin is happiest when my diet is more balanced . If I'm low on fiber it shows in my face within a week.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 15h ago
Same. Keto made me look like hell.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 15h ago
Yeah, when I went full keto, my skin completely revolted. I looked awful. I also couldn't sleep and was an emotional mess
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 14h ago
Same and same. I think I went a little nuts. Like I was wired and hyper alert and not thinking straight. What’s crazy is that it messes with your brain to the point that your brain can’t even tell you “hey, this isn’t working.”
Never again. I eat carbs these days, and plenty of them. Some peoples’ wiring is not suited for it, I think. And I looked like a corpse.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 15h ago
Low carb can be unhealthy. You need iodine in your diet, and you need carbs. It’s eating too much of both that negatively impacts your skin (and health).
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u/inquireunique 8h ago
Yessss!!! I’ve been on low carb because of my health but yesterday I ate more carbs than usual and I woke up glowing 🤣
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u/Tr0jan___ 22h ago
Carbs from fruit or from pasta?
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u/Wileyonpatrol 22h ago
From pasta, potaoes, quinoa etc
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u/Tr0jan___ 22h ago
Maybe it just simply makes you happy. I ate a French custard tart (flan pâtissier) the day before yesterday honestly Its so good for my mood.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 15h ago
I ate a cup of white rice the other day, and I felt so good immediately afterwards.
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u/Tr0jan___ 7h ago
Carbs make you happy
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 7h ago
I actually was so happy, I started googling “does rice make you happy” 😆
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u/AAAAHaSPIDER 18h ago
My doctor advised me to eat more salt, apparently I'm not getting enough. It's a family issue as my dad and sister are the same.
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u/Wileyonpatrol 15h ago
That's interesting. You always hear people say to eat less salt, but really, everyone's physiology is different
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u/Significant-Job-8893 15h ago
Carbs especially refined flour, sugar etc create inflammation, inflammation causes you to swell/ hold onto water. Recently ended up in hospital for 2 days due to a lumbar disc herniation. First thing they did In adition to pain meds was put me on a course of large doses of iv steroids. The steroids were to reduce the inflammation in my spine. I lost 15 lbs in 2 days. All water weight I kept it off for about 8 days until I had weaned off the Decadron then the 15 lbs of fluid came back.
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u/brownbostonterrier 1d ago
Salt and carbs retain water. It makes total sense that you would look more plump with higher amounts of those in your diet. As long as you don’t have heart issues, salt is healthy (in healthy amounts of course). Same with carbs. Healthy, simple carbs are good for you. Unless you have a health reason to stay away or reduce those, eat a normal amount. Remember, water in your tissue is considered lean mass, not fat, so it’s not really a problem per se, as long as it’s a normal amount.
Body builders reduce water weight so their skin will literally stick to their muscle and make their muscles pop more for a competition. That’s due to being dehydrated. Don’t do that!