What Is The Relationship Between The Gut & The Skin?
Are you diligently following a skin care routine and seeing some improvements, but still battling persistent skin issues like acne, eczema 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 routine 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 Gut-Skin?
The term "gut-skin" refers to the connection between the digestive system and the skin, highlighting how the health of the gut can influence the skin. This relationship is based on the gut-skin axis, a communication network that links the gut microbiome to skin conditions. 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 this in mind, it’s clear that your is important in your overall health. Science 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 linking the gut, brain and skin, now known as the gut-brain-skin axis. They suggested that emotional states like stress, worry and fear could disrupt gut health, leading to skin issues. Certified Holistic Nutritionist Maria Marlowe explains, "Research has increasingly supported their ideas, showing how stress and emotional disturbances can impact gut health and, in turn, skin health.”
How Gut Health Affects Skin
While science has validated certain aspects of their hypothesis, much remains unknown about the intricate workings of the gut-brain-skin connection. We understand that stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome can reduce beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while allowing harmful bacteria to thrive. 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 also disrupt the gut (whether you are stressed or not) setting off that same set of events — negative changes in the gut microbiome, which leads 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,” Marlowe explains.
There Is Much to Learn About the Gut
The precise mechanisms by which gut bacteria influence skin conditions remain largely unexplored. Emerging research aims to uncover the molecular pathways involved in the gut-skin connection. Scientists are investigating how diet, stress and medications interact with gut bacteria and affect your skin health.
While certain foods and medications 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 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 check with 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 carbs your body can't digest. So they go to your lower digestive tract, where they act like food to help the healthy bacteria grow." These microbiota act 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: Minimize consumption of processed foods, sugars and dairy. By cutting them out, you may find that they trigger gut or skin issues.
- Balanced Diet: Eat a 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 taking these steps, you can improve your gut health, which may reflect positively on your skin.
What About Topical Probiotics?
Topical probiotic skin care products are growing in popularity. The skin's microbiome — composed of bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites — plays a vital role in health. Probiotics are oftentimes 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 harm. International Educator Brian Goodwin explains, “The skin’s surface is home to a delicate balance of microorganisms, like bacteria and other microbes. This mix of living organisms is known as the microbiome," which is essential for maintaining skin health. Topical probiotics can help keep the bacteria associated with conditions such as acne and eczema in check.
Applying probiotics topically can help replenish and fortify 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 formulated with kombucha, white tea, ginger and jasmine which comforts the skin, calms skin inflammation, and helps you achieve a luminous, healthy-looking glow.
The Final Takeaway
The gut and skin are strongly connected, and many skin issues can be addressed by taking good care of the gut. Probiotics play a key role in maintaining a healthy gut, which in turn promotes glowing skin. Always consult with your doctor before starting any new probiotic regimen to ensure 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.
