November 19, 2024Beauty & Wellness News
How Your Microbiome Impacts Skin Health
We spoke with Naturopath Alice Flannery to get a better understanding on how our gut microbiome impacts skin health.
Our skin is a reflection of our internal environment, therefore skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema are often indicative of an underlying issue. The gut-skin connection refers to the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the skin microbiome, and is an important concept to understand when it comes to the health of our skin.
While topical skin care is an important part of achieving skin harmony, addressing any underlying issues is often the missing piece of the puzzle.
What is the gut microbiome?
A healthy gut microbiome makes for a healthy individual. Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria that are important for overall health. It is the delicate balance of this gut bacteria that is integral to skin health. An imbalance in our good and bad gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, can wreak havoc on the skin, manifesting in skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema and peri-oral dermatitis.
Factors that influence gut microbiome health:
Diet – sugar, inflammatory foods + industrial seed oils, low plant diversity
Lifestyle – alcohol, caffeine intake, recreational drug use, smoking, stress, medications
Hormones
Immune function
Lifestyle – alcohol, caffeine intake, recreational drug use, smoking, stress, medications
Hormones
Immune function
The link between the gut microbiome and skin health:
Given the intricate link between the skin and our internal environment, it comes as no surprise that the state of our gut microbiome has a profound impact on skin health.
Poor gut function (evident through digestive symptoms such as bloating, alternating or irregular bowel movements, flatulence & indigestion) is often characterised by an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria and subsequent low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria (such as candida, staphylococcus and klebsiella) are incredibly inflammatory and increase the production of histamine, which drives conditions such as peri-oral dermatitis and fungal acne. Meanwhile, low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut may result in trans-epidermal water loss and immune dysfunction.
Inflammation: An imbalance in our good & bad gut bacteria has the ability to lead to chronic inflammation in the gut. Inflammation is closely linked with many skin conditions, particularly acne, as sustained inflammation can trigger the release of inflammatory molecules. Inflammation also has a negative impact on skin barrier function, disrupting the skin’s ability to heal.
Nutrient Absorption: Proper nutrient absorption from the gut is essential for skin health. The gut is responsible for breaking down, digesting and absorbing our food. A compromised gut microbiome affects this process, leading to deficiencies in skin-supportive nutrients such as vitamin A, zinc and vitamin E.
Immune Function: Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut, therefore an imbalance in the gut microbiome can negatively impact skin health via reducing the immune system’s ability to reduce bacterial infections, and through increasing inflammation.
Hormones: Many of our hormones are metabolised in the gut, therefore a compromised gut environment can result in hormonal imbalances that exacerbate many skin conditions.
A naturopathic approach to skin health centres on addressing skin from the inside out, therefore implementing gut-supportive practices into your routine will have a positive effect on the overall health of the skin.
Words by Alice Flannery. Instagram @aliceflannerynaturopath.
Image via. Pinterest.