Acne & Probiotics
There's nothing worse than waking up and finding your skin riddled with acne! Aside from acne medications, medicated topical treatments and drinking lots of water, there are more steps you can take to support skin health. One supplement to look into is probiotics. Probiotics benefit the body in many ways, but when it comes to health and beauty supplements, we're focusing on the skin!
What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that causes lesions that can be tender to the touch. It's an inflammatory disorder that does not discriminate, it affects men and women of all ages. Acne can be genetic; however, other factors are at play:
- Growth of bacteria in the pore
- Build-up of dead skin cells in the pore
- Excess oil production in the pore
Keep in mind, acne is much different than getting the odd pimple here and there, it can be painful and hard to manage.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide health benefits when ingested or applied to the body. They are primarily bacteria, and you can get them from supplements and fermented foods such as yoghurt or sourdough bread. Probiotics also help to stabilise gut bacteria, which may reduce inflammation inside and out.
Gut & skin
The quality of your skin can be an indicator of your gut health. There's a connection between the gut and skin, referred to as the 'gut-skin axis'. A large share of our immune system lies in the gut. The gut is responsible for metabolising hormones and processing waste, and if it isn't operating at full capacity, your complexion might let you know!
How do probiotics help skin?
Because of the connection between the skin and the gut, probiotics may support clearer-looking skin. Probiotics are anti-inflammatory, and working from the inside out they can help balance the bacteria on the skin. Probiotics are often used topically to calm skin, but taking them internally reaches where topical treatments cannot.
Acne is caused by multiple factors, but the gut microbiome appears to play a role in its development and severity. One thing you can control is your water intake, so stay hydrated! Aim to drink around 2 litres of water a day to support skin hydration.
Probiotics help balance the skin microbiome and are rising in popularity thanks to the benefits of both topical and oral approaches. They're also great for your general health and wellbeing, so it's a good idea to take probiotics even if you don't suffer from acne!
Supporting your skin from the inside
Because of the gut-skin connection, looking after your gut is one way to support your skin from the inside out. Our Probiotic Gummies are an easy daily way to top up the good bacteria that support a healthy gut, using a hardy, spore-forming Bacillus coagulans strain, and they're sugar-free. To learn more, see our guide on whether probiotic gummies work.