Beauty and skin nutrition, diet tips and articles

The magic of probiotics is no mere hokum - a lot of studies have shown that they are beneficial to the body. Indeed, these microorganisms are saviors of the gut – after all, probiotics can help reduce the incidence of cramps, bloating, abdominal pain, even irritable bowel syndrome.

The benefits of probiotic use are not limited to the digestive tract – they can enhance immunity and improve mental health as well. Most importantly, they can help improve your skin – they might even be useful in the treatment of acne, rosacea, eczema, among many other inflammatory skin conditions.

Given the many benefits of probiotic use, you must get as much as you need for your overall health. Doing so is quite easy, just make sure to follow these tips on how to get the probiotics that you need for stunning skin:

Getting skin-boosting bacteria is as easy as incorporating fermented food in your diet. These probiotic-rich sources can provide you with the bacterial colonies that you need for improved skin health. 

For your appetizer, try kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, or tempeh. Season your food with Miso, and have some yogurt for dessert. Take a sip of Kombucha tea or Kefir drink to wash them straight down to their turf – the digestive system.

Expectedly, if you want your probiotics to work wonders on your skin, then you need to feed them well – and feed them good. 

Prebiotics are fibers that serve as nourishment for the probiotics in your body. You can’t digest them, and you don’t have to worry about that – you can leave that to the probiotics in your gut. 

A good thing about prebiotics is that they are widely available in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Season your food with onion, garlic, leek, and chicory root. Eat dishes with asparagus, dandelion greens, and Jerusalem artichokes. For dessert, add bananas and apples to probiotic-rich yogurt. By incorporating these fares in your food prep, your gut probiotics will surely flourish. 

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• Probiotics and Acne - Is There A Connection?

If you wish to have clear skin – or if you want to minimize your acne, rosacea, or eczema episodes – then you should consider taking prebiotic/probiotic supplements.

There is no such thing as too much prebiotics or probiotics. Since they are naturally occurring substances and organisms, you don’t have to worry about overdosing or suffering from adverse effects – these usually occur with synthetic medications. Even if you eat a lot of fermented food, it would not hurt to take all-natural supplements. 

With the many products out there, make sure to study the nutrition label carefully. Check your probiotic supplements to see if it has the best bacterial strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasie, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium lactis. When it comes to skin health and treatment, these are said to be the more effective colonies.  

As for prebiotic supplements, the best ones are made with inulins and oligosaccharides such as Fructooligosaccharides and Galactooligosaccharides. Apart from supporting probiotic health, these substances can help enhance immunity and improve calcium absorption. They may even help you control your appetite so you can lose weight for good! 

While medications and treatments can help clarify your skin, there is another thing that you should consider – probiotic skincare products. Unlike the aforementioned interventions, most are all-natural, comparable and cheaper as well.  

It is necessary that you maintain your skin microbiome, just like you would maintain your gut’s microbiome. The best way to do so is to opt for skincare products rich in probiotic colonies (and not destroy the ones we already have). 

There are many commercially-prepared products out there, however, they can be a little pricey. Fortunately, you need not spend your fortune to get clear, beautiful skin! You can enjoy the same benefits by making a probiotic skincare product right in the comfort of your own home.

For example, you can use your probiotic pills as ingredients for your skincare products.  Take the case of this coconut mask recipe:

Ingredients:

• Probiotic capsules (with a dose of 30 billion colony-forming units)
• Half a cup of coconut cream
• Optional: a quarter cup of lemon juice, if you have oily skin

Add the content of the capsules to a bowl of coconut cream. Add lemon juice as needed. Stir well and cover the mixture with cling wrap. Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before applying unto a clean face. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes before rinsing. 

Probiotics are godsent microorganisms that may help you achieve clear, glowing skin. They are readily available in fermented food, at the same time, you can enjoy more benefits by taking supplements. Achieving beautiful skin and better overall health is very easy, all you need to do is follow these tips on how to get more ‘good bacteria’ into your body.  

ACHIEVE YOUR SKIN GOALS WITH DERMAL RADIANCE

When one thinks of bacteria, disease-causing germs immediately come into mind. While this is true, another type of bacteria is making waves – and it’s not because of a bad thing it did. It's the opposite.

Say hello to probiotics, live microorganisms that boast of many health benefits. Apart from helping improve digestive health, they might help you achieve better, clearer skin, among many other things. 

Bacteria and Skin Health

While probiotics have been present for decades, they have just taken the mainstage lately. This can be credited to the process of gene sequencing, which has uncovered a wealth of knowledge about these microorganisms and their health benefits. 

The results, of course, are expectedly impressive – they show that gut bacteria affect more than just the digestive tract. This is linked to the discovery of the gut-skin-axis, wherein good bacteria are said to affect one’s immunity, energy, disease risk, mood, and weight. Heck, they can even affect the skin! 

A study published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition journal has shown that inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, acne, and psoriasis can be reduced as long as a  healthy bacterial population is maintained. That’s because probiotics can help improve skin barrier function. With these exciting findings, it comes as no surprise why everybody’s clamoring for probiotic-rich food, supplements, even microbiome tests.

What You Need to Know About the Skin Microbiome

A term that is closely associated with probiotics and skin health is the microbiome, which pertains to the genes of microorganisms inside and outside the body. Most of these organisms are present in the digestive tract, however, around 1,000 strains are also living on your skin. Every person has a microbial fingerprint that is different from the others.

The microbiome of your skin works as a barrier; an ecosystem that protects you from the invasion of harmful organisms. It is sensitive enough to be affected by cosmetics, perfume, environmental pollutants, as well as the clothes that you wear. 

The ‘balance’ of the skin microbiome is usually affected by disease, as with the case of people living with eczema. Research shows that eczematous skin is ridden with the bacteria streptococcus aureus NOT because of the strength of the pathogen, but because of the failure of the skin’s good bacteria to stop the said germs from populating. Probiotics can likely reverse this through bacterial interference, wherein they work by defending the skin from bad bacteria and other opportunistic microorganisms.

Apart from boosting skin health, probiotic products can also halt oxidative stress, which can lead to cell death. Probiotics may help stop skin aging as well, according to a study conducted by physicians from Rutgers University and the State University of New York.

Want More Proof? Here’s a Good Success Story 

It's not just the scientists who have unlocked the benefits of probiotics for skincare. Even regular people such as Shann Nix Jones swear to the effectivity of probiotics for skincare. When her husband’s surgical wound got infected with Methicillin-resistant bacteria, she decided to apply kefir and essential oils directly to his wound. Voila – the infection subsided after two weeks of use!

This was not just a mere lucky guess. Tests were run at the Aberystwyth University and the results showed that Jones’ kefir concoction was indeed effective against the bacteria colonizing her husband’s skin. 

Because of this breakthrough discovery, Jones was able to transform her kefir passion into a sprawling business. The result? Chuckling Goat, a store that sells probiotic skincare products for people with skin conditions.

Probiotics for the Skin: A Growing Trend 

Jones is not the only one to capitalize on the benefits of probiotics. Major pharmaceutical companies have joined the race as well. Skincare, after all, is a billion-dollar industry. From superfood to supplements – to creams and ointments – there is a probiotic product that can appeal to your liking.

So how do you know if you’re benefitting from the promise of probiotics? First of all, make sure to check the label. Nowadays, most products contain probiotic extracts such as Lactobacilli Lysate and Bifidobacteria Glycoprotein. Some products also contain fructooligosaccharides and xylitol, prebiotics that help feed the good bacteria on the skin. These ingredients, when put together, may help improve skin elasticity. They can help ward off harmful environmental factors too. 

The Future of Probiotic Treatment

The global trend that is probiotic skincare surely shows no evidence of slowing down. Quantities are expected to increase, not only from the biggest pharma companies but from the common person's backyard as well (such is the case of Jones' Chuckling Goat.) 

Soon, probiotics might be preferred over the usual treatments for acne and rosacea, which are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. After all, probiotics are generally safe to use. To top it all off, they do not come with side effects that usually come with the aforementioned products. 

In conclusion, probiotic skincare holds so much promise (and zero adverse effects.) What are you waiting for? Hop onto this beauty bandwagon today! 

RELATED ARTICLES ABOUT: PROBIOTICS FOR SKIN CARE

• 4 Probiotic Strains That Solve Specific Skin Problems
• Probiotic Side Effects and How To Avoid Them
• Recipe for Probiotic-Rich Coconut Yogurt Made With Instant Pot
• PreBiotic vs. Probiotics - A True Gut

ACHIEVE YOUR SKIN GOALS WITH CLEAR DERM WITH PROBIOTICS