How Your Gut & Skin Health Are Connected
The Empowered Health Team
Our guts are host to millions of bacteria of multiple different species and functions. In fact, there are so many bacteria in our gut that they outnumber the amount of cells in our body.
This may sound a bit unsavory, especially when we are brought up believing that bacteria equals disease, but the bacteria in our intestines are vital to its function. Without our gut microbiome (AKA the combined bacteria colonies living in our gut) we would be unable to break down some nutrients like vitamin K, perform certain immune functions and protect against gut pathogens.
But it doesn’t stop there. More and more research suggests that the functions of the gut microbiome may even extend to functions outside of the gut.
One of the strongest links that scientific research has been able to make between the gut microbiome and other functions of the body is skin health.
Our skin is an organ of its own and has a complex network of functions to retain water to keep our body hydrated, keep out intruders and sense the world around us. The idea that our gut may also play a factor in our skin’s health and maintenance may seem implausible, yet diet is a known contributor to skin dysfunction, so the link may not be as unimaginable as first glance suggests.
A plethora of research has found that the gut microbiome impacts skin homeostasis and allostasis. In other words, our gut helps our skin stay healthy and recover from stressful events. The pathways that create this link between the gut and skin are complicated, but in simple terms it appears that the microbiome aids in the creation of certain immune system cells that can help with skin growth, healing, UV recovery and hair growth.
Additionally, specific gut bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, have been linked with skin water retention, although the exact reasoning for this is not entirely clear.
When the gut is healthy and works according to plan, our skin can flourish. Unfortunately, when gut dysfunction occurs, our skin can take a hit. Microbial imbalance in the gut is linked with inflammation throughout the body, including the skin.
Furthermore, many of the positive influences that the gut has on skin can cease, effectively making healing, growth and recovery more difficult. All of this can easily lead to skin disorders. In fact, acne, eczema and psoriasis have all been linked in some way to gut dysfunction.
We have all had the misfortune of having acne at one point or another – as a matter of fact, acne is the 8th most common medical disorder worldwide. Our gut microbiome may be to blame for this discomfort, as certain microbial imbalances can result in a positive feedback loop of metabolic inflammation that plays a role in acne pathology. Our typical western diet may exacerbate this problem, as our high carb diets can lead to increased insulin which may help trigger the specific microbial imbalance that leads to acne.
Eczema is also linked to gut dysfunction. This itchy skin condition is caused by allergen’s breaching the skin layer and activating an inflammatory immune response. You may be thinking, if allergens are the cause, then how does the gut play in? Research suggests that gut dysfunction may actually increase the number of pathogens that our body considers to be allergens.
It is believed that this is caused by the immune system being less robust during gut dysfunction. Furthermore, skin may be weakened when not supported by proper gut function. Some have found that our western diet may be the root cause once again, with low fiber and high fat resulting in low production of immune cells within the gut.
Psoriasis, a condition in which skin multiplies at an accelerated rate resulting in irritated scaly patches, is yet another skin condition that’s cause may be tied to gut function. One study that measured amounts of bacteria species in psoriasis patients found that there was a significant depletion in vital immune function colonies.
They also found increased numbers of harmful bacteria like salmonella and e. coli. While research on the exact pathways that cause psoriasis are not as well as established as other skin conditions, it is clear that a link between the two exists.
Fortunately, gut dysfunction is a treatable issue and can improve functions throughout the body. One of the greatest influences on the gut microbiome is diet. Eating a well-balanced diet high in fiber can rapidly alter gut bacteria in a positive direction. Probiotic supplementation has also shown to have positive effects on healing the gut microbiome and even helping with all three skin disorders discussed here.
At Empowered Health we dig into the root cause of gut and skin dysfunction by evaluating your symptoms, nutritional intake and lab markers related to inflammation. Additional tools, including accurate food sensitivity testing and health coach assisted elimination diets, are key steps in analysis.
Finally, we take it to the next level with high quality tests to analyze your stool for localized inflammation, imbalance of the microbiome, pathogenic bacteria, digestion issues and parasitic infections. Testing and treating the gut in this targeted fashion is a critical step towards healing the skin and getting the long term results you desire.
To get started on your path to healthy skin, learn more about memberships at Empowered Health or sign up for an inquiry call here.