Our gut is the control center of our health. It is home to countless bacteria that live in peaceful symbiosis with us as part of what is known as the microbiome (gut flora). The good gut bacteria ensure that we are healthy and feel good. Thus, the gut is closely linked to the health of the entire body—and, consequently, to the skin as well.
However, various factors can have a negative impact on the microbiome. These include, for example, medications, high sugar and alcohol consumption, chronic stress, and a lack of exercise. This can lead to an imbalance in the gut flora (dysbiosis) and manifest in numerous symptoms—including those affecting the skin. The skin may become oily and prone to breakouts. Acne, eczema, rashes, or even psoriasis and atopic dermatitis may develop.
Below, you'll learn how you can improve your skin, because healthy skin comes from a healthy diet, enough sleep, and gut health.
The Importance of Gut Flora for Skin Health
In an imbalanced gut microbiota, there are more pathogenic bacteria than beneficial bacteria and naturally occurring fungi.
Depending on how long this imbalance has existed and how severe it is, symptoms can range from diarrhea and bloating to a lack of energy. Dysbiosis also weakens our immune system. We become more susceptible to infections. In this pathological state, the gut can no longer properly perform its defensive and protective functions; pathogens enter the body unhindered and contribute to conditions such as skin inflammation .
In addition, when the gut flora is out of balance, symptoms can already be seen on the skin, manifesting as skin problems. Since the skin is the body’s outer protective layer, the condition of the gut—as the inner protective layer—is, so to speak, reflected on the skin. For this reason, we can tell by looking at our skin when we’ve had too much sugar or white flour, when stress is getting out of hand, or when our body isn’t getting enough sleep. All of these factors have a negative effect on the gut and, consequently, on our skin.
Oily Skin: When the Gut Is the Cause
From puberty through one's mid-twenties, the sebaceous glands in the skin reach full maturity. This can—driven by the hormones testosterone and estrogen—lead to increased sebum production and, as a result, oily skin and pimples.
So far, so good—and normal.
However, if this situation gets out of hand and oily skin and pimples do not clear up on their own, the cause of the skin problems may lie in the gut. There may be an imbalance in the gut bacteria, or the intestinal lining may not be functioning properly, which disrupts the body’s regulatory mechanisms and contributes to oily skin. Since—as we’ve learned—this isn’t just the source of skin health, but a healthy gut also influences hormone production, the gut should be supported and its health promoted.
Acne and Your Gut: What You Should Know
Acne can have very similar causes, as an upset gut and acne are often linked: This usually involves a “hormonal imbalance” coupled with dysbiosis. As we know, one often leads to the other. Allergens ingested through food can also put additional strain on the gut. This applies particularly to all dairy and wheat products. They promote inflammation in the gut and on the skin, stimulate the sebaceous glands, and contribute to acne-prone skin. If you cut out these allergens—as well as refined sugar—for a while, your gut can rebalance itself, perform its functions more effectively, and inflammation will subside. Eventually, you’ll start to see an initial improvement in your skin’s appearance.
A Healthy Diet for Healthy Skin
If you've determined that your gut is the cause of your acne, oily skin, or other skin problems, it's important to avoid foods that can harm your good bacteria and the lining of your gut—such as white flour, sugar, and alcohol—for a while.
On the other hand, your diet should now include “good food” for your bacteria: soluble fiber, also known as prebiotics. These cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes and therefore reach the large intestine undigested, where they serve as a feast for our bacteria. They not only promote the growth of good bacteria but also displace bad bacteria and harmful pathogens in the gut. When soluble fiber is broken down, it produces byproducts that strengthen the intestinal mucosa.
Gut Health for Clear Skin
Oily, blemished skin, as well as most skin conditions, can be improved through gut restoration. This process strengthens beneficial gut bacteria, creates a healing environment for the intestinal mucosa, and restores the gut’s detoxification capacity.
Overall, a healthy gut flora has a positive effect on the entire body and, consequently, on the skin as well. Thus, a gut reset can help alleviate oily skin caused by an imbalance in the gut, as well as other skin problems such as acne or skin inflammation that are related to gut health.
In addition to a healthy diet, the following measures are important for gut health:
- Probiotics: These are live probiotic bacterial cultures. It’s best to consume a wide variety of them, just as we know from the microbiome. That’s why our Pro EM san combines 31 strains of lactic acid and bifidobacteria, along with 24 fermented herbs and plants.
- Soluble fiber (prebiotics): These reach the large intestine undigested, where they serve as a feast for the good bacteria and help them multiply healthily. At the same time, this process produces breakdown products that, in turn, strengthen the intestinal lining. A double benefit! Each serving of Präbioma contains four types of soluble fiber—optimally combined and very well tolerated.
- Nutrients for the intestinal mucosa: These include, above all, the natural mucosal components L-glutamine and lecithin, as well as B vitamins and selected plant extracts. Our product Pro Mucosa contains a perfectly balanced combination of these nutrients .
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Bitter compounds: These stimulate the production of digestive juices. Pro Intest combines 13 traditionally valued natural herbs with a high concentration of bitter compounds.
Sources
- Bischoff, S. C. Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics. (Georg Thieme Verlag, 2009).
- Bustamante, M. et al. The potential of probiotics and prebiotics for the care of the skin, female urogenital tract, and respiratory tract. Folia Microbiol. (Prague) 65, 245–264 (2020). DOI: 10.1007/s12223-019-00759-3
