The concept of gut-skin connection has been a research topic in recent years. More and more people from all walks of life have started talking about the link between internal health and external looks. Healthy and clearer skin is evidence of a healthy gut, while gut disease may steal the radiance from your skin. Let’s see how these two systems – your gut and your skin are profoundly connected and how a healthy gut can lead to clearer skin and a glowing complexion.
The skin, the largest organ, and the gut have a complex bilateral relationship. The gut-skin axis is the connection between these two systems and how the gut microbiome has a direct role in your skin health. Various inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, rosacea, and dermatitis are seen as the result of the imbalance of gut bacteria.
When the gut bacterial environment is healthy, the skin often follows suit. That’s why when people go through digestive health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or GERD, they experience skin flare-ups due to various inflammatory responses in the body. Inflammation is the base of the gut-skin connection. Persistent gut inflammation disturbs your skin’s natural balance and results in various skin issues.
Vitamins and minerals are essential for skin health. Any disease or inflammation of the gut inhibits the proper absorption of vital nutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and omega-3 causing skin to get dry and dull, and prone to acne.
The gut has a close link with hormone regulation and production. The production of hormones like estrogen and cortisol is impacted due to imbalances in gut flora, which may cause skin problems. The level of sebum production is greatly impacted by the levels of cortisol hormone. The higher the cortisol level, more will be the sebum production, and the result - acne.
The gut consists of around 70 percent of immune cells. A good immune system forms a shield against harmful bacteria and infections, protecting the skin from infections such as eczema and psoriasis.
Gut health issues result in a few of these skin conditions:
Acne: the studies show the relationship between the gut environment that has less beneficial flora and acne. The imbalance of these flora aggravates skin irritation and regular acne breakouts.
Eczema: This is another type of skin condition where gut health has an important role to play. People with dysfunctional gut may suffer from eczema because their gut system may allow inflammatory elements to circulate, which leads to this condition.
Rosacea: This is a condition where harmful gut bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, causing inflammation. Research has shown that treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can decrease rosacea symptoms.
Now that we have learned the strong connection between the gut and skin health, we can use this information and find ways to get a healthy gut that can lead to clearer skin. Your skin’s radiance depends on how clean your GI system is. If you are wondering how to clean stomach, fiber-rich foods, probiotics, good hydration, and intermittent fasting are a few ways you can opt for. Herbal medicines for gut health are also safe and effective means of getting clearer skin.
Fiber, which is also called roughage, is vital for nurturing useful bacteria in your gut. Include roughage in the form of plant foods like legumes, veggies, and whole grains in your daily diet. You can include fruits such as apples or pears with skin, and berries. A medium-sized pear with skin has about 5.6 g of fiber per serving. Add nuts and seeds to your diet as they are high in fiber. Fiber also helps in cleansing your whole gastrointestinal system.
Probiotics reduce acne breakouts by controlling the bacteria responsible for this skin condition. Fermented foods are a good source of probiotics that balance the gut microbiome. Other than probiotics, prebiotics found in foods like bananas, onions, and garlic help nourish good bacteria.
Highly processed and sugary foods are good only for feeding harmful bacteria. Restricting processed snacks and sugary drinks benefits the gut by supporting healthier bacterial flora.
Keeping the intestinal lining hydrated not only protects the gut but also helps it to function properly. Water hydrates and fluxes out toxins from the system. Hydration helps reduce inflammation, balances immune response, and positively affects skin health.
Stress leads to imbalances of hormones, affects digestion, and ultimately affects your skin. Practice stress-relieving methods such as yoga, pranayama, and meditation. Adequate sleep also plays as a de-stressor.
Clear skin doesn’t always mean topical treatments with creams and lotions. It’s time to redirect your focus toward enhancing your gut health with a fiber-rich diet and means to reduce gut inflammation and of course lifestyle changes. Gut issues not only give you stomach pain but can also cause acne and bad skin. You can go for ayurvedic medicine for gut health to get that flawless and radiant skin naturally.
Also read:
Ayurvedic Remedies for Stomach Health Acidity: Symptoms, Treatment, Ayurvedic Remedies
