Dermatologists are encouraged by early research showing link between probiotic use and clearer skin in acne and rosacea patients.
In recent years, probiotics have become synonymous with helping maintain good digestive health. Whether as live active cultures found in some yogurts or as daily supplements, probiotics are live, "friendly" bacteria that may benefit a person's health. Now, emerging research is finding that the benefits of probiotics may extend beyond the digestive tract to the skin. In fact, skin prone to acne or rosacea has shown improvement with daily probiotic use, giving dermatologists reason to consider supplementing traditional acne therapy with a dose of this beneficial bacteria.
Information provided by Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, and adjunct assistant clinical professor of dermatology at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn.
Most bacterial cells that live inside and on the body are harmless, and studies show that, in fact, they can be extremely beneficial to the body's normal functioning. Dr. Bowe noted that while the science of how probiotics can work to interfere with the development of acne and rosacea is very complex, Dr. Bowe noted that researchers are studying how this type of healthy bacteria applied topically to the skin or taken orally can benefit these skin conditions.
Currently, some cosmeceutical manufacturers have started using probiotics in their products based on this early research - including probiotic masks, creams or cleansers. There are different ways that topical probiotics can benefit the skin:
Protective ShieldDr. Bowe explained that oral probiotics - sold as daily supplements containing Lactobacilli and/or Bifidobacterium or in yogurts containing live cultures - could influence skin conditions such as acne and rosacea by affecting what is known as the "gut-brain-skin axis." With this theory, stress alone or in combination with processed comfort foods that lack fiber can slow digestion. This in turn changes the type and number of bacteria that live in the gut to unhealthy bacteria. Eventually the gut lining becomes leaky and toxins are released into the bloodstream causing inflammation throughout the body. People who are predisposed to acne or rosacea can experience flares as a result of this shift in gut bacteria and subsequent inflammation.
To counteract flares of acne or rosacea associated with the "gut-brain-skin axis," Dr. Bowe advises patients to find ways to help manage or cope with stress, fix their diet or introduce healthy bacteria to the gut in the form of probiotics. The probiotics will line the gut and create a healthy, sealed barrier that prevents inflammation that can trigger acne or rosacea.
While United States-based studies are underway to better understand this complex process, a few international studies have shown a correlation between oral probiotic use and improvement in acne, including: