Are you diligently following a skin care routine and seeing some improvements, but still struggling with persistent skin issues like acne, eczema, or rosacea? Emerging research suggests a strong connection between the health of our gut and the condition of our skin, also known as the gut-skin axis. While your skin care routine makes a difference, you can achieve even clearer, healthier skin by coordinating your efforts with a focus on skin and gut health.
What is Gut-Skin?
The term “gut-skin” refers to the connection between the digestive system and the skin, highlighting how gut health can affect the skin. This relationship is based on the gut-skin axis, a communication network that links the gut microbiome to skin diseases. The gut even plays a role in your nervous system, with your stomach containing more than 100 million nerve cells that communicate with the brain. With that in mind, it’s clear that it’s important for your overall health. Science is revealing the role that maintaining a healthy gut can play in revealing clearer, brighter skin.
Historical perspective
Almost a century ago, dermatologists John H. Stokes and Donald M. Pillsbury proposed a groundbreaking theory linking the gut, brain, and skin, now known as the gut-brain-skin axis. They suggested that emotional states such as stress, worry and fear could disrupt gut health, leading to skin problems. Certified Holistic Nutritionist Maria Marlowe explains, “Research has increasingly supported their ideas, showing how stress and emotional disturbances can affect gut health and, in turn, skin health.”
How gut health affects the skin
While science has validated some aspects of their hypothesis, much remains unknown about the complex workings of the gut-brain-skin connection. We understand that stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome can reduce beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while allowing harmful bacteria to thrive. This imbalance triggers inflammation and impairs immune function, which are key factors in conditions such as acne, psoriasis and rosacea. Marlowe emphasizes that “stressful thoughts can negatively alter the composition of the gut microbiome,” ultimately affecting skin health by promoting the growth of opportunistic bacteria.
“We now also know that certain foods and drugs can also disrupt the gut (whether you’re stressed or not) causing the same set of events – negative changes in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation in the body and ultimately inflammation in the skin,” explains Marlowe.
“Note that most common skin disorders (such as acne, psoriasis, and rosacea) are considered inflammatory skin disorders. All of these conditions have been linked to some form of gut dysbiosis,” explains Marlowe.
There is much to learn about the gut
The exact mechanisms by which gut bacteria influence skin diseases remain largely unexplored. Emerging research aims to unravel the molecular pathways involved in the gut-skin connection. Scientists are investigating how diet, stress and medications interact with gut bacteria and affect the health of your skin.
While certain foods and drugs are known to disrupt 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 live in your body and are good for your digestive system.” Consume probiotics to restore and balance your gut microbiome. Foods rich in probiotics include yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. You can also take probiotic supplements, but it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor first before adding supplements to your diet.
- Prebiotics: According to WebMD, prebiotics are a food source for your healthy gut bacteria. “They’re carbohydrates that your body can’t digest. So they go into your lower digestive system, where they act as food to help healthy bacteria grow.” These microflora act as fuel for the good bacteria, supporting their growth. Prebiotics can be found in fiber-rich foods such as onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, oats and apples.
- Avoid inflammatory foods: Minimize consumption of processed foods, sugars and dairy. By cutting them, you may find that they cause gut or skin problems.
- Balanced nutrition: Eat a balanced diet rich in fiber, lean protein, healthy fats and fermented foods to promote microbial diversity.
- Hydration: Stay well hydrated to support overall digestive health.
- Reduce stress: Manage stress through activities such as yoga, meditation and other forms of exercise.
By taking these steps, you can improve your gut health, which can reflect positively on your skin.
What about topical probiotics?
Topical probiotic skin care products are growing in popularity. The skin’s microbiome — made up of bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites — plays a vital role in health. Probiotics are often what people refer to when they talk about “good bacteria.” They help balance the microbiome in the skin, which can defend against environmental stressors and damage. International Educator Brian Goodwin explains, “The surface of the skin is home to a delicate balance of microorganisms, such as bacteria and other microbes. This mix of living organisms is known as the “microbiome,” which is essential to maintaining healthy skin. Topical probiotics can help keep bacteria associated with conditions like acne and eczema under control.
Topical application of probiotics can help replenish and strengthen this ecosystem, supporting your skin’s first line of defense. In terms of product recommendations, our Kombucha Microbiome Collection is formulated with pre, pro* and postbiotics to maintain your skin’s natural microbiome. This collection is also made with kombucha, white tea, ginger and jasmine which soothes skin, calms skin inflammation and helps you achieve a bright, healthy-looking glow.
The Ultimate Takeaway
The gut and skin are closely connected and many skin problems can be treated with good gut care. Probiotics play a key role in maintaining a healthy gut, which in turn promotes glowing skin. Always check with your doctor before starting any new probiotic regimen to make sure it’s right for you.
Do you swear by incorporating probiotics into your diet? We would love to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation on social media.
*Does not contain live probiotic cultures.
