6 Sneaky Ways Gut Health Is Linked to Common Skin Issues
The skin is a visual representation of overall health
Believe it or not, but science has linked gut health to several common skin issues.
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I see skin health differently.
I see that skin health is a visual representation of overall health, and these links between gut health and the skin might unlock avenues of treatments that folks haven’t considered before.
So, if someone has gut issues AND common skin concerns, it might be worthwhile to start seeing skin health holistically and start looking at gut health.
Scroll on through to learn how sneaky the gut is within the context of skin health - especially if you want info about acne, eczema, and rosacea!
DISCLAIMER: THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS POST DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AS MEDICAL ADVICE. This post does not constitute as medical advice; is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any conditions or disease; and is meant for educational purposes only. The information in this post does not replace or substitute the advice of your medical provider. Speak to your doctor before starting anything new or book your appointment with me today.
1- Stomach infection & acne:
Researchers found that a stomach bug infection that also is known to cause gastritis and stomach pains is linked to acne!
This bacteria is called Helicobacter pylori, and there were 2 studies that were published in 2020, one by Saleh, et al. and one by Khashaba, et al., about the link between H. Pylori & acne.
One cool thing is that Khashaba, et al. reported a “statistically significant decrease in total lesion count after triple therapy [to treat H. pylori]”.
2- Constipation & eczema:
If someone has both constipation and eczema, it’s probably no coincidence!
Papers published in 2021 and 2023 found a link between constipation and eczema. The 2021 study by Huang, et al. concluded that “constipated people had a 2.31-fold greater risk of AD compared with those without constipation.”
3- Gut bacterial overgrowth & rosacea:
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is when a person has an overgrowth of bacteria in a place where excess bacteria aren’t typically found - the small intestine.
Literature indicates that SIBO can look like “abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and rarely malabsorption.”
Now, when looking at SIBO and skin health, Parodi, et al.’s 2008 article found that SIBO is commonly found in folks with rosacea. Parodi, et al. also found that when SIBO was treated in subjects with rosacea, “eradication of SIBO induced an almost complete regression of their cutaneous lesions”
Want to learn more about the gut microbiome & the skin? Read my blog all about it (Click here)
4- Heartburn & rosacea:
Researchers discovered that long-term use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) heartburn medications is linked to rosacea!
That’s interesting since scientists also discovered that long-term use of PPIs is also linked to the development of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - a gut issue also linked to rosacea, as mentioned above. Coincidence?
5- Acne & Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):
If TikTok says that hot girls have IBS, do they have acne too?
According to literature, IBS is “one of the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases.” And, IBS is defined as the presence of “abdominal pain or discomfort with altered bowel habits”
When looking at IBS and acne, Demirbas and Elmas’ 2021 preliminary study found a link between acne and IBS. They reported that “IBS is significantly more common in patients with [acne] than in healthy controls,” and found that acne grading scores to quantify acne severity (called the Global Acne Grading System) were “higher in patients diagnosed with IBS.”
Curious about what causes IBS? Read my blog post to learn about it - Click here to read
6- IBS & eczema:
If hot girls with IBS don’t have acne, do they have eczema?
A 2019 study by İslamoğlu, et al. reported that IBS was more common in folks with atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema). They went on to say that “abnormal stool form, abdominal distension, feeling of incomplete evacuation, and straining” were more common findings in people with eczema.
Gut-skin healing/Conclusion:
So, if someone has any of the skin issues discussed above AND their skin isn’t healing with conventional options, could the gut be involved? Maybe! When my patients see me for holistic skin solutions, I consider gut health and many other root factors that may play a role in their skin concerns.
From what I’ve seen with many of my patients who have long-standing skin concerns AND gut issues, their skin starts to heal over time as the root issues behind their skin symptoms are addressed. And, depending on the gut issues they have, there is an array treatment options that they can capture.
The incredible thing is that when someone starts to heal their skin holistically, their overall wellbeing starts to improve as well - and that’s because their operating under the philosophy that skin health is a reflection of overall health.
Ready to start your holistic skin healing journey? If you’re in LA, let’s work together!
You can find me at The Things We Do in Downtown Los Angeles, and you can book your appointment below.
For individuals outside of California, you can find the nearest licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) to you on the Institute for Natural Medicine’s directory of licensed providers by clicking here: Find an ND here
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