The gut microbiome has become a popular topic over the past number of years. There is, and continues to be, much research into its effects, both intrinsically to improve digestive system health and also how it can manifest into other areas of our health and wellbeing.
There has been some exploration into whether links exist between our gut health and our skin health, with a focus on chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne. These conditions present with different levels of severity, and the fact that they are multifactorial in origin, makes them difficult to treat with precision.
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Adding to the complexity, the outward appearance of skin ailments can lead to poor self-esteem and anxiety, which further exacerbates these conditions.
The mainstay treatments for the majority of skin conditions is topical application of various creams and ointments. For example, psoriasis and eczema, application of emollients will be encouraged to keep the skin moist and soft. Stronger steroid treatments would be required during a flare-up, to reduce the inflammation. Sometimes oral therapy is required or UV light therapy can be beneficial. In the case of acne, antibacterials and retinoids are often required, topically with progression to oral if needed.
What is the skin microbiome?
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Like the gut, the skin has a diverse population of micro-organisms that compete to survive on its surface. Many of these are harmless and live in harmony with each other. They can even be helpful in protecting the skin from other potentially toxic species. A disruption in the balance of these micro-organisms however, can lead to an less than intact skin barrier. There also appears to be associations between the presence of certain micro-organisms and the possibility of development of some skin conditions.
Similarities between gut and skin
Although the skin is external to the body and the gut is internal, there are a number of similarities between these organs. Both are highly innervated and vascularised. Their huge and diverse micro-organism populations protect the body, using their abilities to decipher between favourable and unfavourable compounds. Both systems have a high cellular turnover rate, which prevents colonising micro-organisms from adhering to their respective surfaces and causing infection.
Does the gut microbiome affect skin health?
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The gut breaks down our ingested food, produces vitamins, helps our immune system and protects our body from pathogens. It is home to a diverse store of bacteria, fungi and protozoa, which often work in harmony to allow these processes to occur. However, due to various factors (such as lifestyle, diet, antibiotic-use) the gut environment can become imbalanced. This can lead to a number of local issues such as irritable bowel syndrome. There is some research suggesting that the gut can become permeable and allow inflammatory products to get into the bloodstream. This may cause the body stress and possibly manifest as skin flare-ups. There are also suggestions that neurotransmitters produced in the gut can interact with other organs via nerves. These theories show that the mechanisms are unclear at the minute and more research is required to establish a definitive link between the gut and the skin.
So what can we do?
Helping to improve our gut health may seem strange if you have a skin condition but it maybe something that will become apparent in the future. The general rules for a healthy gut are to increase fibre intake and eat a wide variety of plant sources to increase the diversity of our gut microbiome. Dr Tim Spector is well-known in this field and has many tips to accomplish a gut-diverse diet.
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It is also helpful to limit processed foods, alcohol and those with high refined carbohydrates. Many people find benefit in eating fermented foods such as kefir and sauerkraut which deliver good bacteria to the gut. There has been an explosion in recent years of probiotic supplements to the market, each one delivering different strains of bacteria to the gut. The supplements range from capsules such as Bio-kult (available in pharmacies and health stores) to liquids, like Symprove*.
My opinion
Although there is much more research to be done, looking after our gut health could become a gateway to improving our health in many different areas. We can do this by eating a varied diet and incorporating some form of probiotics to maximise the diversity of the bacteria in the gut.
It may not be the miracle cure for your skin condition but it is a relatively straightforward approach to try and the worst that can happen is that your whole body will benefit from the nourishment of eating lots of different foods.
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