What your gut says about your skin – The Gut-Skin Connection

Your skin and your gut are intimately linked. In fact, the general health of your skin can point to the health of your gut. But how does gut health affect skin? Before we address this, let’s define what a healthy versus an unhealthy gut looks like.

A healthy gut is marked by minimal stomach disturbances, smooth digestion, and regular bowel movement. An unhealthy gut usually leads to stomach disturbances like heartburn, constipation, gas, or bloating. One might find their bowel movements to be irregular and experience complications digesting meals when their gut health is compromised.

There are also signs to look out for in your skin if you think your gut health is amiss. An unhealthy gut can show up as inflammation in the form of rosacea, spots, redness, and eczema. Studies have shown that those with digestive issues are at a higher risk of having skin conditions like acne vulgaris. It seems your gut flora affects the health of your skin barrier. But how does this happen?

The common denominator between the gut-skin axis is your immune system. Microorganisms that thrive in your gut constantly interact with your body’s immune system. When these microorganisms are not flourishing in adequate amounts, the homeostasis between them and the body’s immune system is thrown off balance.

An immune system that is off-kilter can make you more susceptible to all kinds of infections, including skin disorders.

In fact, these conditions arising are the body’s way to alert you to improve your gut’s health. This is why it is so important to care for your gut health by eating a probiotic-rich diet, getting adequate rest, and managing stress levels. TO sum up, your gut speaks volumes about your skin and vice versa. If you struggle with rosacea, unexplained breakouts, dark spots, or sensitive skin, check up on the health of your gut before anything else. You can also check out our range for acne-prone skin.

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