Your eyes are the window to your soul… but your skin, is a reflection of your health.

One of the primary drivers of your overall health is your gut microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome creates a strong immune system. Your immune system impacts every cell, tissue, and organ.

Your skin, is your body’s largest organ... 

So what is the connection between your gut and the quality of your skin?

What is the Gut Microbiome?

Check out the basics of the gut microbiome in my previous blog Your Microbiome is as Unique as your Fingerprint.

An imbalanced gut microbiota, or, dysbiosis (refer to above), may cause to inflammatory conditions that not only impact your digestive system, but every other area of your body, including your skin!

How are the Gut and Skin connected?

Your body’s systems and organs connect and interlink on a plane of axis’. Your gut microbiome and skin (remember, an organ), is known as the gut-skin axis. 

The gut-skin axis is connected through a number of interrelated factors. Your gut health, affects your skin health.

1. Immune System Regulation: About 70-80% of your body's immune cells are found in your gastrointestinal tract. Since the skin is also a part of the immune system, a well-balanced gut microbiome can contribute to a healthier skin immune response.
2. Inflammation Control: The gut microbiome can influence inflammation throughout your whole body. A well-balanced microbiome helps prevent excessive or chronic inflammation. Inflammation can exacerbate skin conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis. Ever notice when you eat shit food, your skin also looks like shit? I definitely do.
3. Nutrient Absorption: Your gut amazingly absorbs nutrients from all of the food you eat. A healthy gut microbiome increases efficient nutrient absorption, providing essential vitamins and minerals to keep your skin firm, glowing, and radiant! The foods you eat can even influence how quickly your skin ages!!
4. Microbial Metabolites: Microbes (gut bugs) produce much needed metabolites (by-products). These include short-chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) that can influence your skin's health. These metabolites can have an anti-inflammatory effect and help maintain your skin’s barrier function. 
5. Hormonal Influence: Like everything else in your body, yes, your gut microbiome impacts hormone regulation. Hormonal imbalances are often associated with skin conditions (pre period acne, am I right?!). This can be due to changes in oestrogen levels influenced by your gut microbiome… and even your oestrobolome (more on this later ;)).

Radiantly glow from the inside out...

I don’t know about you, but I am a firm believer that your skin reflects your health. I hope after reading this, you start to think about what tell-tale signs your skin might be telling you.

Is it time to give your gut some love?