Every time a zit pops up, you reach for an effective anti-bacterial face wash or spot corrector. Research shows that most acne conditions are a result of bacteria, specifically P. acnes, that get into your pores and wreak havoc on your skin. Can good gut bacteria be the solution to acne? That depends on the type of bacteria.
Today, probiotics are making inroads in everything from your food and probiotic supplements to skincare and beauty products. The first thing to know is that not all bacteria is bad for your health. Probiotics are your friendly neighborhood superheroes. These live cultures are friendly bacteria that offer a whole host of benefits to your health. Most people know that probiotics are great for digestive health, but these friendly organisms also help combat environmental damage, boost your immune system, lose extra pounds, and give your skin a clear and healthy glow. Here’s how.
Probiotics for Acne: Not a New Idea
In 1930, researchers John Stokes and Donald Pillsbury studied the connection between anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues, and skin conditions like acne. In 1961, research concluded that out of a sample set of 300 acne-prone patients, 80% showed clinical improvement after using probiotics. More recently, a 2010-study in Nutrition Journal showed that fermented Lactobacillus caused fewer instances of acne and oily secretions in users. The most widely-researched probiotic strains, in this regard, are Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus thermophilus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bifidobacterium longum.
Connection Between Gut and Skin
When the gut microbiome is imbalanced, your immune system suffers, and this causes skin inflammations like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Similarly, harsh skin cleansers and products disrupt the microbiome living on top of your skin, causing breakouts. So, if you want your skin to look and feel healthy inside and out, a balanced microbiome is key.
Your gastric system and the skin are both involved in the process of detoxifying your body. There are trillions of bacteria living inside your body and on your skin. These bacteria form your microbiome. The gut contains the largest number of bacteria in the body. This microbiota is made up of multiple species of bacteria, particularly strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. The ideal balance that should be maintained in your gut is 85% good and 15% bad. However, this balance is precarious and is thrown awry due to environmental factors, illnesses, an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of sleep, stress, use of antibiotics, and aging. Probiotic supplements help correct this imbalance so your body and mind can function optimally.
If you want to correct your skin’s appearance, you need to start with your gut. Healthy gut flora ensures that the food you eat is broken down easily, all the nutrients are absorbed, and toxins are eliminated. This will keep inflammations away, and prevent acne and other skin problems.
How to Use Probiotics to Combat Acne
Probiotics can be used in two ways – in the form of topically-applied products such as masks, cleansers, and creams, and holistic probiotic supplements. Topical probiotics help by creating a protective shield on your skin, calming skin cells to avoid inflammations, and killing bad bacteria. However, these topical treatments will give you no other benefits. Probiotic supplements work from the inside out, so you can enjoy improved digestive health, clarity of mind, and great skin sans acne.
Some food items contain probiotics. These include yogurt, fermented milk drinks, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, and miso soup. Commercially available probiotic foods generally include information about the specific strains that are contained within. However, the minimum number of recommended probiotic live cultures you should consume is over one billion CFUs (colony-forming units). It is unlikely that you will meet this requirement with food items. So if you want to make sure that your body gets the right amount of the right type of probiotic strains, your best bet is a good quality supplement.
Digestion is impeded by stress, lack of sleep, and consumption of processed foods with little to no fiber content. As your digestive process suffers, the good bacteria in your gut reduce, and this leads to a leaky gut lining. Toxins pass through this weakened lining and enter the bloodstream to cause inflammations and skin flares. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), in order to effectively work the gut-brain-skin axis, it is important to supplement your health with quality probiotics, find ways to reduce or manage stress, and fix your diet to include high fiber foods that aid in digestion. Probiotics reinforce the gut lining while prevents any toxin leakage and potential skin inflammations. The final result is a healthy gut and glowing skin.
Choose the Right Probiotic Supplement
While looking for probiotic supplements, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Ensure that the supplement contains at least one billion CFUs per dose. Find a supplement with an effective delivery system. Stomach acids kill most live organisms before they even get a chance to reach your intestines and boost your health and immunity. In fact, most capsules and other forms allow only 4% of the bacteria to actually reach the target site.
LoveBug Probiotics’ supplements contain multiple strains of quality probiotics, and each dose packs a powerful punch with 10 billion live cultures. Contained in a tablet, the good bugs are released into your system slowly over an 8-10 hour period. LoveBug’s trademark BIO-tract technology ensures that a whopping 60% of the organisms reach the target site alive and ready to get to work, making these tablets 15 times more effective than other capsules in the market. Say hello to acne-free skin and great gut health with LoveBug Probiotics supplements.
