Can Gut Health Impact Your Skin?

You may be surprised to know that your skin is related to your gut health. Inflammatory bowel disease is a major condition that can adversely impact your skin's health. Gut problems can cause various skin conditions like koilonychia, palmoplantar keratoderma, panniculitis, erythema nodosum, neutrophilic dermatoses, and more. Therefore, taking care of your gut can also help keep your skin in good condition. 

How Are Gut and Skin Related? 

Microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal tract form the gut microbiome that determines your immune health, and, in turn, your skin health. Among the diverse bacterial species present in the gut, some help you by supplying nutrients to your body or protecting it against pathogenic bacteria, also found in the gut. 

But the microbiome is prone to changes and the balance between various species can be favorable to inflammatory or pathogenic bacteria. This can happen due to various reasons like chemotherapy, sudden infection or illness, environmental changes, dietary modifications, overuse of antibiotics, and changes in medications.

Irrespective of the reason, the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in your gut can cause chronic inflammation of your gastrointestinal system. As such, your stomach lining can get damaged over time. Due to that, more bacteria can enter your bloodstream and affect it with their toxic byproducts. Some of these byproducts like p-cresol and phenol can impair skin health, reduce hydration, and disrupt skin integrity. 

While having an unhealthy gut can majorly affect your overall health, it can particularly cause an array of common skin problems. These include rosacea, atopic dermatitis (eczema), inflammation, psoriasis, dry skin, and breakouts of spots on your skin. 

How Can You Improve Your Gut Health?

To boost your gut health, it's a good idea to follow these tips: 

• Consider having probiotics to add extra good microbes to your gut to combat any bad bacteria and improve the immune response of your body. Probiotics refer to live yeasts and bacteria that are beneficial for your health, particularly the digestive system. Probiotics offer several health benefits and can even help prevent and treat skin problems like eczema. 
• Add more plant-based foods and high-fiber foods to your diet since whole grains, nuts, pulses, veggies, and fruits can feed healthy bacteria. 
• Try to avoid highly processed foods since they usually have ingredients that increase the count of bad bacteria or suppress good bacteria. 
• Reduce your exposure to harmful environments since that can negatively affect your gut health. 
• Use extra-virgin olive oil when you cook food. It has the highest count of microbe-friendly polyphenols. 
• Add garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, chicory, lettuce, and artichokes to your diet because they help promote good bacteria. 
• Try exercising regularly since it improves the movement of your gut. 
• Try to avoid getting much anxious or stressed. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, it can affect your gut health further. 

Over 80% of your immunity lies in your gastrointestinal tract. A strong immune response is key to good overall health, including that of your skin. So, make sure to address skin problems from the root by improving your gut health.