Those of us who’ve been struggling with acne have probably tried every gimmicky skincare product under the sun. But when no face wash or pimple cream seems to help, we may start to feel discouraged and wonder if we’ll ever get a hold of our acne.
But have you considered that the problem may be more than skin-deep, and coming from within? Gut health is closely related to skin health, and that’s why taking vegan probiotics could be the answer to any acne-sufferer’s prayers.
Probiotics can help clear acne by restoring the skin barrier and reducing the count of microbiota that cause poor skin. That’s why ensuring optimal gut health can be the first step in improving and preventing acne.
So if you’re curious about the role gut health plays in acne formation, and want to learn more about how you can use probiotics to get clear skin, you’re in luck. We’ll give you all the information you need to take control of your skin and say goodbye to acne.
The relationship between gut health and skin
To understand how vegan probiotics may be useful in reducing acne, we need to first be aware of the link between gut health and skin.
Because the status of our gut microbiome affects many parts of our bodies, it should come as no surprise that gut health is also closely connected to skin health.
One study refers to this connection as the gut-skin axis, and explains that there’s a strong interrelationship between gut microbiota and skin conditions. This means that for anyone suffering from acne or other skin conditions, the root of the problem could lay in the gut.
This begs the question: how can we make sure that our gut microbiome isn’t the culprit behind bad skin? And the answer is, probiotics.
How do probiotics help with acne?
So you may be wondering: what role do probiotics play in clearing up acne?
Probiotics are live bacteria that can be consumed to reduce inflammation and restore balance to our gut.
Because a healthy gut microbiome has been studied to prevent or reduce acne, it’s important we take probiotics to rule out bad bacteria as the cause of poor skin.
But exactly how do probiotics work to stop acne? Research shows that probiotics decrease the count of P. acnes, a bacterium which has been known to contribute to acne formation when found on the surface of skin.
Studies have also demonstrated that gut bacteria can impact our body’s response to disturbed skin barrier function. This means that we need the healthy gut bacteria that can be obtained from probiotics to achieve healthy skin barriers, which are important for protecting our pores from oil and dirt that leads to acne.
How to clear up acne with probiotics
There are multiple ways we can use probiotics to ensure optimal gut health and get clear skin fast. One method is by eating foods that are rich in probiotics, some of which include:
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Kombucha
Eating a diet rich in probiotic foods can help restore balance to the gut, and as a result, clear up acne and improve the overall look of our skin.
But if you don’t feel like working from the inside out, topical probiotic creams, oils, and washes can be incorporated into your skincare routine to work at surface level.
The Dermatology Online Journal explains that topical probiotics have been used for skin care since the early 20th century, and are gaining even more popularity as time goes on. However, there is very little data that proves the effectiveness of topical probiotics, which could be a reason to give oral probiotics a try first.
Luckily, there’s another way we can take probiotics orally. If we aren’t consuming enough probiotics in our everyday diet and topical creams aren’t working, we may want to try taking probiotic supplements.
Research suggests that probiotic supplementation in healthy adults can lead to improvement in the gut microbiota, which may result in clearer skin.
That’s why anyone not consuming enough good bacteria from fermented foods can help to support a healthier skin microbiome via the probiotic strains found in dietary supplements.
Luckily, FuelOrganics offers a high-quality vegan probiotic supplement filled with healthy bacteria and perfect for anyone looking to benefit from improved gut health and a reduction in acne breakouts.
Final thoughts
People struggling with acne often have a hard time getting to the root of the problem. That’s why anyone on the journey to achieving clear skin should consider the role that gut health may be playing in their skin’s condition.
By consuming more probiotics for acne, whether it be via supplement or food, we can help to protect our skin and potentially clear up unwanted acne. Food cravings could also be a sign of a nutrient deficiency.
Trusted sources
- De Pessemier, B., Grine, L., Debaere, M., Maes, A., Paetzold, B., & Callewaert, C. (2021). Gut-Skin Axis: Current Knowledge of the Interrelationship between Microbial Dysbiosis and Skin Conditions. Microorganisms, 9(2), 353. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020353
- Salem, I., Ramser, A., Isham, N., & Ghannoum, M. A. (2018). The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Frontiers in microbiology, 9, 1459. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
- Kober, M. M., & Bowe, W. P. (2015). The effect of probiotics on immune regulation, acne, and photoaging. International journal of women's dermatology, 1(2), 85–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.02.001
- Lee GR, Maarouf M, Hendricks AJ, Lee DE, Shi VY. Topical probiotics: the unknowns behind their rising popularity. Dermatol Online J. 2019 May 15;25(5):13030/qt2v83r5wk. PMID: 31220895.
- Khalesi S, Bellissimo N, Vandelanotte C, Williams S, Stanley D, Irwin C. A review of probiotic supplementation in healthy adults: helpful or hype? Eur J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jan;73(1):24-37. doi: 10.1038/s41430-018-0135-9. Epub 2018 Mar 26. PMID: 29581563.