Model and fitness guru Maeve Madden has opened up about her struggle with adult acne. The Northern Ireland native revealed that a simple lifestyle change helped to give her her confidence back.
Maeve began having problems with her skin three years ago, and was forced to take action when it began to affect her job as a model in London. She decided to visit a cosmetic dermatologist who informed her that hormones were to blame.
Speaking to the Independent.ie Maeve said, “I never had problems with my skin until 2014. I always had clear skin, but then it was triggered by my polycystic ovaries. It was so frustrating because it happened all of a sudden.
“After a while, I just got used to it. I was afraid to not wear makeup. It was holding me back when I was a model in London, because in castings I was told to take it off and I used to say, ‘You can use Photoshop!’
“I didn’t want to go down the medicinal route, so in 2015 I went to see cosmetic dermatologist Dr Valli in London, who has a technique for getting rid of acne.
“She said that my diet would trigger inflammation, so we went through my diet and I made a lifestyle change. What goes in to your body comes out on your skin.”
The personal trainer discovered that dairy, sugar, alcohol and fizzy drinks were major triggers for her acne. She now urges anyone who is experiencing problems with their skin to “have a good look at your nutrition and your lifestyle and what you’re eating.”
“I feel so much better now and eat foods to help my skin, like oily fish, avocado, almonds. I eat real foods. I watch labels, but I’m not obsessive. I don’t count calories or macros, I just eat real food and that’s what got me to where I am today.
“We all know what’s good and what’s not. If you really want something, you’ll do it. Small changes every day make big results.
“You can’t put a price on confidence,” she said.
