Thee Estie Educator

Most people don’t think twice about what they eat before a wax appointment.

They’ll avoid retinol. They’ll skip the sun. They’ll remember not to shave. But very few people stop to consider that what they’re putting into their body may be showing up on their skin.

Nightshade vegetables are a family of foods that include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (bell peppers, jalapeños, cayenne, paprika), eggplant, and tomatillos. They’re incredibly nutritious for many people, but for others, they can contribute to inflammation because they naturally contain compounds called alkaloids. This doesn’t mean they’re “bad.” It simply means every body responds differently. As an esthetician, I don’t just look at your skin. I look for patterns.

If you’re someone who struggles with persistent redness after waxing, swollen follicles that linger longer than expected, frequent ingrown hairs, unexplained breakouts, or skin that seems to stay irritated no matter how perfect your home care routine is, your diet may be one piece of the puzzle worth exploring. Inflammation is inflammation.

Whether it’s coming from stress, hormones, lack of sleep, underlying health conditions, or foods that your body doesn’t particularly love, your skin often becomes the messenger. When your body is already in an inflammatory state, waxing can feel more uncomfortable, your skin barrier may be more reactive, and healing can take longer. Does this mean everyone should stop eating tomatoes forever? Absolutely not.

Most people tolerate nightshades perfectly well. But if you’ve been dealing with chronic skin inflammation, PCOS, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), autoimmune conditions, eczema, psoriasis, or you simply notice that your skin flares after certain meals, it may be worth keeping a food journal and seeing if there’s a connection.

One of the biggest misconceptions in skincare is believing that every skin issue can be fixed with another product. Sometimes the answer isn’t another serum. Sometimes it’s understanding what’s happening inside your body. Healthy skin is a whole-body conversation.

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