How our skin looks and feels is another indicator of whether we're
eating the right stuff for our bodies (or not).

When I first started a paleo diet (about 4-5 months ago), I had acne
and it slowly cleared up and my complexion was not as oily.  But for a
couple of months while experimenting with paleo, I had dry bumpy skin
on the backs of my arms and also on my hands-- the skin on my
fingertips would split and bleed, and because I used my hands so much,
it was really painful.  My heels would crack, too.

I was taking a lot of fish oil and flax oil at the time and I
eventually stopped using them... instead, I began to eat the fat on
the cuts of meat I ate (and fatty fish, etc).  I craved fat in any
form.  It seemed more paleo to me to eat the animal fat off the meat
than something in a capsule or a bottle.

I don't know what was causing my skin to crack like this, whether it
was the oil supplements or what, but I have noticed lately that the
skin on my hands and arms is incredibly soft, a lot
like it was when I was pregnant and full of soft female mommy
hormones.  :)

but to answer your question, yes I think they are fantastic side
effects, and way to go!

Kathy Schwinghammer <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> It's only been about six weeks since I started eating paleo, and one
> of the first things I noticed was a change in my complexion.  Almost
> immediately, my skin cleared up.  (It's embarrassing to admit that
> at 34 years old I still had acne, but no matter what skin-care
> regimen I tried, I never entirely stopped breaking-out.)  But since
> I've gone paleo, my skin looks better than it has since I was a
> teenager.  My skin feels softer, too, and my face is maybe a little
> prone to feeling oily, but I'm not complaining.  It's an absolutely
> tremendous improvement, and I'm sure it's entirely due to my new
> eating habits.  Co-workers have noticed and commented that I have a
> "healthy glow" lately.
>
> I can't tell you all how glad I am to have discovered this "new"
> diet.  Those are some rather fantastic side-effects, don't you
> think?