What Is Skin Fasting And Will It Clear Your Skin

You've definitely heard of fasting. Whether it's for religious or health reasons, fasting means someone is choosing not to eat as they normally would. Some people choose to fast for a certain amount of hours throughout their day, otherwise known as intermittent fasting, a popular health trend that has been going around for a while now (per Hopkins Medicine). Fasting is often synonymous with food, but as Healthline notes, did you know you can do a fast for your skin as well?

If you are looking for clear skin, you may want to try your hand at a skin fast. According to Byrdie, all the products you may be using to combat your breakouts could have a negative effect. Working in the same sense as a fast from food, taking a break from your multi-step skin care routine could help improve its health. The skin care detox is a trend that has been on the rise for years now.

Byrdie spoke with a skin care expert, Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, about the benefits of skin fasting. "Skin fasting is taking a break from all of your current skin care products or routine to give your skin time to breathe, rest, and reset," Zubritsky explained, "Theoretically, it allows your skin to naturally function the way it was intended to without the help of skin care products." While we likely develop multi-step skin care routines in good faith, there is a chance that we could be overdoing it. Sometimes, your skin needs a little break.

You can skin fast in different ways. Some people like to cut out a few products at a time, while others go cold turkey. Dr. Zubritsky says a full skin fast includes eliminating every product you use. Yes, even your cleanser! This can last a few days or a few weeks. Dermatologist Natalie Aguilar's idea of skin fasting isn't as intense. She shared with Byrdie, "I recommend sticking to the basics like cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and eliminating all other products cold turkey. If you're going to eliminate sunscreen, then you should eliminate sun exposure as well."

Skin fasting can clear up your skin under some conditions. Esthetician Karen Fernandez told Byrdie, "Those with skin sensitivities may benefit from skin fastin... It gives the skin time to not have any active ingredients that can trigger inflammation." Decreasing products that cause inflammation can in turn help to clear your skin up. However, if you suffer from a more severe case of acne, skin fasting isn't recommended for you, per Allure.

Dr. Zubritsky notes that those who suffer from severe acne or other skin disorders like eczema or rosacea should not eliminate the topical products that help with their conditions. Said Zubritsky, "I am not a fan of the cold turkey [approach], a total elimination of all skin care products at once, especially if you have a skin condition that requires active ingredients."

It is recommended that you reach out to your dermatologist or a skin care professional before attempting a skin fast if you suffer from any of the above conditions. Otherwise, you may experience smoother skin with less inflammation by cutting out some of the products you are using.