Gut/Skin Axis

The gut is a part of the digestive journey. It allows your body to process the stuff you consume, absorbs the minerals and nutrients and then utilizes them to nourish and energize the body. If the gut doesn’t work properly, the risk of gut diseases rises. Our gut is repeatedly exposed to ambient chemicals and foreign antigens. That’s why it contains a large immune system with lymphoid tissues and immune cells.

Meanwhile, the skin is the biggest organ in the human body. It functions as a fence between internal processes and the external environment that surrounds you. The skin defends against viruses, controls body temperature, and produces touch (tactile) sensations, and what are we without touch? The skin's immune system works the same way the gut's does, defending the host against allergens, diseases, pathogens, and inflammation.

Let's talk about the connection between gut health and skin. Your skin is a natural indicator of what's happening within the gut. We are still learning a great deal about the gut, and new questions keep emerging. Research has linked an unbalanced gut with some of the most uncomfortable skin conditions, such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis (De Pessemier et al., 2021). Both the gut and the skin are deeply influenced by their respective microbiomes, and these micro-organisms need balance and care. When these bacteria are balanced and cared for, the skin tends to be healthier and more balanced too.

The assortment of bacteria, fungi, and other creatures that reside in and on the body is known as the microbiome. A balanced skin microbiome is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Some researchers have asked whether modern habits such as frequent washing, which can strip the skin of its natural oils, disturb the skin microbiome. The evidence so far is mixed: one study found no significant change in skin bacteria after short-term washing with common cleansers (Two et al., 2016), while another found shifts in skin bacteria within an hour of cleansing (Sfriso and Claypool, 2020).

Skin and gut microbiomes work similarly. An imbalance of gut microbes is associated with inflammation and other issues (Salem et al., 2018). Likewise, inflammatory skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema can be linked to an imbalance of bacteria on the skin, where harmful bacteria take over and can cause inflammation (De Pessemier et al., 2021). Research suggests the gut microbiome can influence immune responses in the skin, which may help explain these links (Salem et al., 2018). When your skin and gut microbes are working well, your skin is better placed to stay balanced over the long term.

Sometimes we just want to live our lives exactly how we want. Eat that pizza, drink that fifth glass of wine. And that’s totally okay. That’s why we’re writing these pieces, so we can give you some additional tools. The gut microbiome can change within days of a major change in diet (David et al., 2014), and we may be able to encourage more beneficial microbes through certain supplements. Symprove is one of them. Symprove is a nutritional supplement that contains live bacteria, intended to support a healthy gut microbiome. These beneficial bacteria help defend and nourish our gut microbiota every day. If you are conscious of your skin and gut health, you could consider adding Symprove to your diet.