Are you carefully adhering to a skin care routine and seeing some improvements, yet still struggling with persistent skin concerns like acne, dermatitis, or rosacea? Emerging research suggests a strong connection between our gut health and the condition of our skin, also known as the gut-skin axis. While your skin care regimen is making a difference, you can achieve even clearer, healthier skin by synergizing your efforts with a focus on both skin and gut health.
What Is the Gut-Skin Axis?
The term “gut-skin” refers to the link between the digestive system and the skin, highlighting how the health of the gut can influence the skin. This connection is based on the gut-skin axis, a communication network that connects the gut microbiome to skin conditions. The digestive tract also plays a role in your nervous system, with your stomach containing more than 100 million nerve cells that communicate with the brain. With this in mind, it’s clear that your gut health is essential to your overall well-being. Research is uncovering the role that maintaining a healthy gut can play in revealing clearer, more radiant-looking skin.
Historical Perspective
Nearly a century ago, dermatologists John H. Stokes and Donald M. Pillsbury proposed a groundbreaking theory connecting the gut, brain, and skin, now known as the gut-brain-skin axis. They suggested that emotions like stress, fear, and anxiety could disrupt gut health, resulting in skin issues. Certified Alternative Nutritionist Maria Marlowe explains, “Research has significantly supported their ideas, demonstrating how anxiety and emotional disruptions can affect gut health and, in turn, skin health.”
How Gut Health Affects Skin
While research has verified certain aspects of their hypothesis, much remains unknown about the detailed workings of the gut-brain-skin link. We know that stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome can reduce beneficial microorganisms like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while allowing harmful bacteria to grow. This imbalance triggers inflammation and impairs immune function, which are key factors in conditions like acne, psoriasis, and rosacea. Marlowe highlights that “stressful thoughts can negatively alter the gut microbiome’s composition,” ultimately affecting skin health by promoting the growth of opportunistic bacteria.
“We now also know that certain foods and medications can disrupt the gut (whether you are stressed or not), triggering that same set of events—negative changes in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation in the body and, ultimately, inflammation in the skin,” explains Marlowe.
“Remember that most common skin disorders (such as acne, psoriasis, and rosacea) are considered inflammatory skin conditions. All of these conditions have been linked to some form of gut dysbiosis,” Marlowe clarifies.
There Is Much to Learn About the Gut
The exact mechanisms by which gut bacteria influence skin conditions remain largely uncharted. Emerging research aims to explore the molecular pathways involved in the gut-skin connection. Scientists are investigating how diet, stress, and medications interact with gut bacteria and affect skin health.
While certain foods and medications are known to interfere with the gut microbiome, leading to systemic inflammation that manifests in the skin, the full extent of these interactions is still under investigation.
What Strategies Can I Use to Clear My Skin?
Here are some steps you can take to improve your gut health:
- Probiotics: As WebMD explains, “Probiotics are live yeasts and good bacteria that reside in your body and benefit your digestive system.” Consume probiotics to restore and balance the gut microbiome. Probiotic-rich foods include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. You can also take probiotic supplements, but it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor first before adding supplements to your diet.
- Prebiotics: According to WebMD, prebiotics are a source of food for your gut’s healthy bacteria. “They’re carbohydrates your body can’t digest. So they travel to your lower digestive system, where they act as food to help the healthy bacteria grow.” These microbiota serve as fuel for good bacteria, supporting their growth. Prebiotics can be found in high-fiber foods like onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, oats, and apples.
- Avoid Inflammatory Foods: Reduce the consumption of processed foods, sugars, and dairy products. By cutting them out, you may find that they trigger gut or skin issues.
- Balanced Diet: Eat a well-balanced diet rich in fiber, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fermented foods to promote microbial diversity.
- Hydration: Stay well-hydrated to support overall digestive health.
- Reduce Stress: Manage stress through activities like yoga, meditation, and other forms of exercise.
By following these steps, you can improve your gut health, which may positively impact your skin.
What About Topical Probiotics?
Topical probiotic skin care products are gaining popularity. The skin’s microbiome—composed of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites—plays a vital role in health. Probiotics are often what people are referring to when they talk about “good bacteria.” They help balance the microbiome on the skin, which can defend against environmental stressors and damage. International educator Brian Goodwin explains, “The skin’s surface is home to a delicate balance of microorganisms, such as bacteria and other microbes. This mix of living organisms is called the microbiome,” which is crucial for maintaining skin health. Topical probiotics can help keep the bacteria associated with conditions like acne and dermatitis in check.
Using probiotics topically can help restore and fortify this ecosystem, supporting your skin’s first line of defense. In terms of product suggestions, our Kombucha Microbiome Collection is designed with pre-, probiotic*, and postbiotics to maintain your skin’s natural microbiome. This collection is also formulated with kombucha, white tea, ginger, and jasmine, which soothe the skin, calm inflammation, and help you achieve a luminous, healthy-looking glow.
The Final Takeaway
The gut and skin are strongly linked, and many skin problems can be addressed by taking good care of the gut. Probiotics play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut, which, in turn, promotes beautiful skin. Always consult your doctor before starting any new probiotic regimen to ensure it’s right for you.