The Gut-Skin Connection: How Gut Health Drives Acne

Gut healthSkin

23 Aug

Acne is a complex skin condition with a variety of contributing factors, from hormonal imbalances to diet and lifestyle. In a previous blog (here), we dove deep into the role that hormones play, and today it’s all about huge impact of the gut!

It’s no secret by now that the gut has a finger in basically every condition, and acne is no exception. Emerging research highlights the profound impact that gut health has on skin, and specifically how imbalances in the gut microbiome and intestinal lining can drive the development of acne.

Understanding the Gut-Skin Axis

Many studies now have linked gastrointestinal health with skin health, and there is significant evidence of a bidirectional relationship between the two, termed the gut-skin axis. The gut microbiome is a complex community of trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that reside in your digestive tract. These microorganisms play a vital role in many bodily functions, including digestion, immune system regulation, and inflammation control. Interestingly, members of the gut microbiome have been shown to impact skin condition through a variety of processes:

Immune responses and inflammation: one of the primary ways the gut influences skin health is through inflammation. Microbial communities within the gut interact with the skin and influence local and systemic immune responses. The gut microbiome plays a key role in regulating the body's inflammatory response. When the gut is imbalanced, it can lead to systemic inflammation, which is a known driver of acne. Inflammatory molecules from the gut can enter the bloodstream and affect the skin, leading to redness, swelling, and the formation of acne lesions, which leads me to my second point…
The intestinal lining: intestinal permeability, often referred to as leaky gut, occurs when the lining of the intestines becomes compromised, allowing toxins, toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria to pass through the gut wall and into the bloodstream. This can trigger an immune response, leading to widespread inflammation that can manifest as acne.
Immune system dysfunction: the gut is home to a significant portion of the body’s immune cells - in fact about 80% of the immune system resides in the gut! The gut is therefore an essential component of immune health and defence against pathogens. Dysbiosis - an imbalance in the gut microbiome - impairs immune function, leading to an increased risk of inflammation, which can exacerbate acne.
Nutrient absorption: the gut is responsible for the absorption of nutrients, many of which are crucial for skin health such as vitamins A, D, E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. When the gut is compromised, nutrient absorption is impaired, leading to deficiencies that may contribute to the development and severity of acne. Further to this, a lot of these nutrients are also essential for a health intestinal lining, so deficiencies here can exacerbate poor gut health which can further drive acne.
Hormonal balance and detoxification: the gut also influences hormones. After waste products are processed by the liver, they are excreted via the gut. Conditions like dysbiosis, constipation, and leaky gut can impair this natural detoxification process, causing toxins (including hormonal waste) to recirculate and be reabsorbed. This can cause hormonal imbalances which further contribute to acne.

How do we know if poor gut health is the culprit?

Aside from utilising testing (which we’ll get into), determining whether your acne is linked to poor gut health involves looking at your overall digestive health and identifying any gut-related symptoms. Here are some signs that your gut may be contributing to your acne:

Digestive symptoms: do you frequently experience bloating, gas, constipation, dairrhoea, reflux, burping, indigestion, nausea, and poor appetite?
Food sensitivities: if you notice that certain foods trigger digestive discomfort, it may indicate an imbalanced within the gut. Common culprits include gluten, dairy, garlic, onion, and fruits.
Frequent antibiotic use without any microbiome restoration: antibiotics don’t just kill bad bacteria, they also kill good bacteria! This can disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and a reduction in beneficial bacteria.
Chronic stress: high stress levels can negatively impact gut health by altering the gut microbiome and increasing intestinal permeability. If you’re under constant stress, it’s likely contributing to both gut issues and acne.
Mood and mental health: the gut-brain axis is another intrinsically linked pathway, and if you experience anxiety, depression, or mood swings along with acne, it may be connected to an imbalanced gut.
Autoimmune conditions: if you have an autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Coeliac’s disease, you may be at higher risk for gut-related issues that can contribute to acne.

Improving Gut Health to Manage Acne

Given the strong connection between gut health and acne, addressing gut imbalances is a powerful and essential strategy for resolving acne. Naturopathic medicine takes a root-cause approach, meaning rather than prescribing any old random thing, we spend up to 90 minutes listening to your story, we investigate all the different body systems that may be involved, we consider your diet and lifestyle, and we refer for comprehensive testing… all with the aim of identifying the underlying driver and addressing it! We talked in our previous blog about naturopathic treatment approaches to acne, and to recap they are:

Rebalancing and optimising hormones (if indicated)
Supporting natural detoxification pathways via the gut and liver
Optimising the diet
Managing the stress response
Reducing inflammation
Promoting overall skin health and skin barrier function
Supporting a healthy lifestyle

And of course on that list is also, optimising gut health! At The KAN Clinic, this looks like

First and foremost: referring for appropriate gut tests to provide clear diagnostic insights. This can include microbiome mapping, testing functional markers within the gut, testing for leaky gut, or SIBO breath testing.
Ensuring the nutritional composition of the diet is optimal. This includes:
- Adequate fibre intake - 25-30g per day
- Focusing on whole foods and vegetables
- Focusing on prebiotic fibres to feed the beneficial microorganisms in your gut
- Limiting foods that aggravate the gut like alcohol, refined sugars, gluten, and dairy
- Staying hydrated with at least 2.5-3L of water per day
- Incorporating probiotics, such as yoghurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi
Managing stress, which has profound impacts on the gut microbiome and permeability status of the gut.
Targeted supplementation, which we decide based on any test results we receive. This can include prebiotics, nutrients to repair the gut lining, antimicrobial herbs to eradicate any suboptimal microorganisms, or digestive enzymes and herbal bitters to support digestive processes.

The gut-skin connection is a powerful reminder that achieving clear, healthy skin goes far beyond antibiotics, the pill, and topical treatments. By addressing gut health and systemic health with appropriate testing and targeted approaches, it is possible to tackle your underlying drivers of acne, and achieve healthy, glowing skin! Book a discovery call with our team today and learn more about the treatment pathways we can utilise to help you feel healthy and happy in your skin.

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