The human body is home to trillions of microorganisms, outnumbering even the human cells. And a host of these diverse bacteria ecosystems (over 1,000 species approx.) reside on your skin. Research shows that some of these microbes actually promote skin health. They reinforce your skin’s natural barrier against bad bacteria, balance your skin’s pH levels and may even protect against skin cancer.
But constant use of harsh facial cleansers and antibacterial soaps strip your skin of these healthy bacteria or the ‘good bugs’ — consequently damaging your skin’s natural bacterial ecosystem. This, in turn, makes your skin stressed and dry, causing skin issues like breakouts, eczema, rosacea flares and psoriasis.
So, what can you do to build back your skin’s natural defenses and healthy function? Enter probiotics.
Here, two skin care experts explain how probiotics work on your skin and why they deserve to be a part of your daily skin care routine.
First things first, what are probiotics?
“Probiotics are microorganisms that are similar to the naturally occurring bacteria in your gut,” says Dr. Rhonda Klein, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and Partner at Modern Dermatology, Connecticut.
They facilitate numerous health functions, from serotonin production and digestion to increasing resistance to illness and infection, she explains.
“The more good bacteria we have in our body, the more likely we are to prevent the bad bacteria from taking over and causing issues like gastrointestinal symptoms, IBS and inflammation,” says Dr. Klein. Foods like yogurt, kimchi, tempeh and kombucha are some of the best sources of this gut-friendly nutrient.
