Food Dyes and Your Skin: What Las Vegas Patients Should Know Kendall Egan, MD – Las Vegas Integrative Dermatology

From brightly colored sports drinks to candy, cereal, and even condiments, artificial food dyes are everywhere in the modern diet. While these additives make food look more appealing, research suggests they may not be so friendly to our health — or our skin.

If you’ve been dealing with stubborn acne, eczema, or unexplained rashes, food dyes could be playing a hidden role.

🎨 What Are Food Dyes?

Artificial food dyes are synthetic color additives made from petroleum. Common ones include:

• Red 40 – found in sodas, candy, sports drinks, flavored yogurt

• Yellow 5 & Yellow 6 – common in cereals, chips, baked goods

• Blue 1 & Blue 2 – in ice cream, popsicles, packaged desserts

These dyes are widely used in the U.S., even though some have been restricted in Europe due to safety concerns.

🌿 How Food Dyes May Affect Skin Health

Food dyes are not just “empty” additives — they may trigger inflammation, hormone disruption, and immune responses in some people. For sensitive patients, this can directly impact skin:

• Acne Flares: Certain dyes may increase inflammation and alter gut health, which can drive breakouts.

• Eczema & Hives: Some patients notice itching, redness, or rashes after consuming foods with synthetic dyes.

• Immune Overactivity: Dyes may aggravate skin sensitivity in those with allergies or autoimmune tendencies.

• Skin Aging: Chronic inflammation from food additives can accelerate oxidative stress, worsening fine lines and dullness.

🥦 Better Alternatives for Skin Health

At Las Vegas Integrative Dermatology, we recommend reducing artificial food dyes when possible and choosing whole-food options:

• Look for snacks and drinks colored with turmeric, beet juice, spirulina, or paprika extract.

• Choose fresh or minimally processed foods that don’t require extra coloring.

• Read labels carefully — even “healthy” yogurts, bars, or cereals can contain synthetic dyes.

• Notice your skin — keeping a food/symptom diary may help connect diet and flare-ups.

⚖️ Moderation Matters: Real Life, Real Balance

Here’s the truth — it’s almost impossible to avoid food dyes all the time. Restrictive diets and ingredient checking in social situations can be exhausting and may hurt one the major "Blue Zone" rules we try to follow at Las Vegas Integrative Dermatology - Avoid chronic stress and gravitate and support community and social engagement. Restrictive diets can often lead to social isolation and chronic stress - worsening overall health.

At Las Vegas Integrative Dermatology, we encourage patients to do their best most of the time — but we also remind them that moderation is important. Being overly restrictive with food can backfire, creating social isolation and stress. High stress raises cortisol levels, and elevated cortisol can actually worsen skin disease.

Diet and health should support your life — not make it harder. At our clinic, we support patients in making sustainable changes without guilt or perfectionism. Balance is the key.

🌟 The Integrative Dermatology Approach

At Las Vegas Integrative Dermatology, Dr. Kendall Egan works with patients to uncover hidden triggers — including diet, gut imbalances, and environmental exposures — that may worsen skin conditions. By combining medical dermatology with integrative nutrition and lifestyle strategies, we help patients achieve clearer, healthier skin from the inside out.

📅 Take Control of Your Skin Health

If you live in Las Vegas, Summerlin, or Henderson and struggle with acne, eczema, or unexplained rashes, food additives like dyes could be contributing.

👉 Schedule online at www.lasvegasintegrativedermatology.com or call 702-930-6441

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All information contained on this website is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional medical treatment or for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question or condition.