Probiotics are often associated with digestive health. But did you know that you can use them for your skin, too?

Probiotics for skin care isn’t new but it’s only now that many people are discovering their amazing benefits and effects on the skin. Before you join the bandwagon or decide it’s just a trend that will soon run its course, it’s important to learn what probiotics are and how they can help improve your skin and reduce acne.

What are Probiotics and What Do They Do?

Probiotics are good bacteria and yeasts that are similar to the good bacteria that are already living inside your body. When taken in adequate amounts, they offer a range of health benefits. The most popular benefit of probiotics is they keep your gut healthy and maintain the balance between the good and bad bacteria. When you have too much of the bad ones, you experience symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, weight gain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and other chronic health issues. In simple words, probiotics help prevent bad bacteria from wreaking havoc in your body.

Other benefits and effects of probiotics are:

  • Assists in the treatment and management of lactose intolerance
  • Helps treat urogenital infections
  • Helps prevent and manage symptoms of rotavirus-induced diarrhea
  • Helps prevent dental caries
  • Helps improve the absorption of minerals
  • Helps prevent or alleviate allergies
  • Helps prevent infections in the respiratory tract

You can find probiotics in some dairy products, soft cheeses, yogurts, sauerkraut, kefir, and sour pickles. Sourdough bread, miso soup, and tempeh may also contain certain types of probiotics. Common probiotics used in supplements are Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus.

When considering taking probiotics, keep in mind the effects vary depending on your age, diet, health status, and gender.

How can Probiotics Help with Overall Skin Health?

The skin is the largest organ of your body and acts as a protective barrier against harmful chemicals, microbes, and other foreign organisms. It is composed of several layers and glands. Like your gut, your skin contains thousands of good and bad organisms. According to research, every square centimeter of your skin has about one million bacteria. Due to the differences in skin topography and environmental factors, however, different parts of your body have different skin flora composition.

Because your skin is always exposed to many risk factors, it is important to keep it healthy so it can continue doing its job. Any imbalance in your skin could lead to conditions like atopic dermatitis, allergies, and acne.

Some studies have investigated the effects of certain oral probiotic supplements on the skin’s immune system after exposure to UV rays. The results show that oral probiotic supplements could effectively reduce sunburn recovery time. Another study investigated the effects of probiotics on UV-induced skin damage. The results show that probiotics may help prevent early signs of UV-induced skin damage and UVB-induced photoaging, such as pigmentation, wrinkles, skin looseness, and skin thickness.

Probiotics help maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria on your skin. They also make your skin more resilient, effectively improving your body’s protective barrier and helping your body fight off infections.

How can Probiotics Help with Reducing Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition among men and women but is predominant in teenagers. It often starts during puberty but may happen at any stage of your life. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 85% of people in the United States from 12 to 24 years old experience at least minor acne.

This chronic skin condition can be caused by different factors, such as overly active oil glands, genetics, hormones, stress, and diet. It is can be non-inflammatory or inflammatory. Examples of non-inflammatory ones are whiteheads and blackheads. Cysts, pustules, papules, and nodules are examples of inflammatory acne.

Certain probiotic strains are found to be helpful in managing acne. Research shows that probiotics can help significantly reduce inflammation. Some probiotic strains can also affect the skin’s flora and environment, effectively inhibiting growth of and killing organisms that cause acne.

Other studies show that some probiotics may have antimicrobial properties, which can kill acne-causing bacteria. Additionally, some probiotics have calming effects on the skin. Some topical probiotics can act as a protective barrier and prevent your immune system from perceiving living organisms on your skin as bad bacteria, treating them as threat and attacking them. This in turn gets rid of symptoms like redness, swelling, rash, and itchiness.

What are the Best Probiotics for Your Skin?

Different probiotics provide different effects on your skin. For instance, Lactobacillus plantarum have been investigated to help prevent signs of UVB-induced photoaging, such as fine and coarse wrinkles, skin dryness, and pigmentation or discoloration.

Probiotic supplements from Navan Skin Care includes some of the best probiotics for your skin. Here are what they do:

  • Bacillus coagulans is closely similar to lactobacillus. While they are perfect for many digestive conditions like diarrhea and IBS, Bacillus coagulans can also help in managing general skin problems, and acne.
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most popular kind of probiotic and can be found in many fermented foods. Apart from keeping your digestive system healthy, manage flu symptoms, and prevent vaginal infections, Lactobacillus acidophilus also helps manage eczema and atopic dermatitis.
  • Bifidobacterium breve helps improve the elasticity of your skin. It also helps prevent dryness as it increases hydration in your skin. Additionally, Bifidobacterium breve manages signs of skin damage due to photoaging.
  • Bifidobacterium lactis is known for its effects on your digestive system, immune system, and oral health. Because it boosts your immunity, it helps ensure that your skin is healthy enough to act as a protective barrier against harmful organisms.
  • Lactobacillus salivarius is a popular probiotic supplement for treating and managing symptoms of atopic dermatitis and eczema.

How to Choose Probiotic Supplements

The best way to choose a probiotic supplement is to check how many probiotic strains and live cultures the supplement has. For instance, Navan Skin Care's probiotic supplement contains 10 probiotic strains and 30 billion live cultures. Next is to learn about the benefits of the strains. It is also best to consult your doctor to make sure the probiotics won’t interact negatively with any medications you’re taking.

Ready to buy a probiotic supplement? Check out Navan Skin Care’s Probiotic or contact us to learn more about our products.

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