When it comes to looking after your skin, your bathroom cabinet is probably the first place you think of. Cleanser. Moisturiser. SPF. Perhaps a serum or two. But your skin is influenced by much more than what you put on it. Increasingly, scientists are exploring the relationship between the gut and skin, sometimes referred to as the gut skin axis.
What is the gut skin axis?
Your gut and your skin may seem like completely separate parts of your body, but they have more in common than you might think. Both contain their own communities of microorganisms. The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microbes living primarily within your digestive tract, while the skin has its own microbiome living on its surface. Research suggests that communication between these two ecosystems may influence skin homeostasis and the way the skin responds to its environment.
Inflammation and the skin
Inflammation is a normal part of the body's immune response. However, the relationship between the gut microbiome, immune system and inflammatory processes is complex. Researchers are investigating how changes in the gut microbiome may influence inflammatory pathways that can also affect the skin. This does not mean that every skin concern is caused by your gut. Skin health is influenced by genetics, hormones, environment, skincare, nutrition, stress, sleep and many other factors. But it does show why looking after your health from the inside can be part of a broader approach to skin wellbeing.
Supporting your gut microbiome
One of the simplest ways to support your microbiome is through your diet.Try eating a variety of plant foods throughout the week. Different plants contain different types of fibre and other compounds that can be used by your gut microbes. Other foundations include regular movement, sufficient sleep, managing stress and staying hydrated. Your skincare routine still matters. But perhaps the best approach is not skin versus gut. It is both.
Looking after your skin from the inside out
Healthy skin does not come from one product or one perfect routine. It is built from many small things that happen every day. And when we think about skin in the context of the whole body, the gut becomes an interesting part of the conversation. If you are looking to support your gut microbiome, Symprove contains four strains of live and active bacteria in a water based solution designed to help them reach the gut alive.