Sugar and dairy products may be one of the problems. Lack of exercise could be one as well. There's some research on this, although some reviews seems to indicate that the evidence isn't 100% clear.
I think the other piece of puzzle, where there's a dire need of research, is on the microbiome of the skin. Having a healthy culture of good bacteria on your skin may be important. That's why washing with soap can cause as much damage as it helps -- if you overdo it, you don't just kill the bad bacterias, you kill the good ones too.
I've experimented a bit with Mother Dirt.. I can't say it's a cure for anything, but it does seem to help.
That's a really interesting idea. Come to think of it, I've spent a lot of time on extended camping and hiking trips and cant come up with a memory or picture when my skin wasn't at its best then.
Also: that microbiome could be include yeasts, which also naturally live on the skin.
I think the other piece of puzzle, where there's a dire need of research, is on the microbiome of the skin. Having a healthy culture of good bacteria on your skin may be important. That's why washing with soap can cause as much damage as it helps -- if you overdo it, you don't just kill the bad bacterias, you kill the good ones too.
I've experimented a bit with Mother Dirt.. I can't say it's a cure for anything, but it does seem to help.
https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29601613 https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/21916275 https://academic.oup.com/fampra/article/22/1/62/440463