Do Probiotics Help with Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point in their life. While it’s easy to treat, many acne sufferers want to avoid harsh chemicals and prescription medications, much preferring to explore whether probiotics help with acne or not.

The problem with this is that there are so many conflicting opinions out there about the best way to cure acne naturally. Many of these tips are unreliable, unproven, or even dangerous.

A lot of people are misinformed about how to treat their acne, and this leads them down the wrong path with ineffective treatments like harsh chemicals or over-the-counter products.

Who experiences acne?

It is not uncommon for young adults to experience acne, but it can be hard to know what causes the skin condition. Acne is caused by a combination of factors including hormones and bacteria on your skin. There are many treatments available for acne, including topical medications and oral antibiotics. One treatment that has gained popularity in recent years is probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have been shown to help improve digestive health through the production of enzymes that break down food particles into smaller pieces so they are more easily digested by the body.

They also increase the number of good bacteria in your intestines which helps keep harmful bacteria at bay while strengthening the immune response within your gut lining because good gut bacteria health equals better overall health.

A study published in June 2013 in the Journal of Medical Microbiology looked at how yogurt containing several probiotic strains may help improve symptoms in acne sufferers.

Results of this study showed that no matter what type of bacteria was found in the yogurt, it all significantly reduced the number of P. acnes bacteria present on participants’ skin after four weeks.

Participants who ate yogurt every day for four weeks also reported significantly fewer acne symptoms including total pimple count, number of inflamed pimples, and number of noninflamed (whiteheads/blackheads) pimples.

Participants who ate the yogurt twice a day experienced the biggest change in their skin after four weeks with no reported side effects! According to researchers, consuming probiotics on a regular basis may help reduce the number of acne-causing bacteria and improve symptoms in acne sufferers.

In fact, one study found that using a probiotic supplement twice daily helped reduce acne by 40% over a 12-week period

According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the effects of probiotics may help reduce acne lesions. The study found that participants who took a probiotic supplement had a 22.5% reduction in acne lesions after eight weeks, compared to a 4.5% reduction among participants who took a placebo.

Source: NCBI

Can probiotics help with acne?

Probiotics are beneficial in reducing acne severity.  Probiotics can help with acne by balancing the gut flora and restoring a healthy balance of good bacteria to your system, which will ultimately reduce inflammation and breakouts.

They also aid in supporting a healthy immune system, so you’ll be less likely to experience skin-related issues like eczema or psoriasis. And because probiotic supplements have been shown to improve moods and may even boost your mental health, they can help with overall skin health as well. 

In order for probiotics to work their magic on your face, it’s important that you take them daily at least 2 hours after taking antibiotics. This is because antibiotics kill off both the bad bacteria AND the good kind, which can make your digestive system break down and leave room for those nasty acne-causing bacteria to take over. 

Topical probiotics are fine as long as they contain “good” strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium lactis, but be careful of taking supplements that contain the bad strain called Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause more acne breakouts.

What probiotic foods help?

You can eat probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and sauerkraut in order to get your daily dose of organisms for clearer, healthier skin. If you’re not a fan of these fermented foods, you can find certain live cultures in supplements or even pick them up in capsule form at your local natural dispensary.

Probiotic treatments available

More recently, dermatologists have invested in the use of probiotics to help treat acne symptoms, which is great news for those who are looking for new ways to experience clear skin!.

Studies have shown that some species of Lactobacillus can lower the lactic acid concentrations on the skin and help reduce acne severity and oil levels in the skin.  Some studies even go as far as to say that short-term intake of probiotics can contribute to a small decrease in sebum secretion for up to 3 months after taking the supplements!

Bifidobacterium is another good type of bacteria with strong anti-inflammatory effects on your body. It also has astringent properties (ever hear of the very popular product called witch hazel?) that may reduce acne-causing bacteria on the skin.

In conclusion

The best way to treat acne is by using probiotics which are good bacteria found naturally in our bodies (especially in the gut microbiome) that help with digestion and boost immunity among other things. Probiotics also play an important role in keeping our skin healthy because they help control acne-causing bacteria on the skin.

So if you’re looking for a bit more natural, holistic approach to helping your skin stay clear and glowing, adding probiotics to your daily routine might be an excellent option! Just remember that it’s best to take them 2 hours before or after taking your antibiotics, so your body receives both the good and the bad bacteria.

Therefore, introducing more probiotics into your lifestyle, either through diet changes or taking a probiotic supplement can only be beneficial to you and your skin.

A quick reminder ..

Probiotics.tips aim to provide the most up-to-date information, help, and advice for YOU to make informed decisions. If you are unsure or uncertain and require more clarity, please reach out to us and we will gladly come back and advise you as best we can.

The best means to reach us is via email at info@probiotics.tips or fill out the form on our Contact Us page – click here.

Probiotics.tips