Probiotics are the new buzz word for enhancing your Pet’s Grooming regimen, thanks to the award-winning line of products from Skout’s Honor…but the truth is that Probiotics in Human Skin Care/Beauty Products is where it all began…
A decade ago, the thought of embracing bacteria would have raised plenty of eyebrows. However, with growing wellness trends, a lot of health-driven individuals have no problem embracing the bacteria that is probiotics.
While bacteria does have a bad reputation, it’s important to remember that they’re not all bad. There exists microflora that can be extremely beneficial to the body. So much so that they’ve been included in foods and created in supplement form. That being said, what exactly are these good bacteria that everyone seems to be centering their lifestyle and diet on?
WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
According to studies, the health of one’s gut can actually impact their general wellbeing (1). Thus it is important to keep your gut health in check, and that’s where probiotics come in.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that inhabit both inside and on the surface of the body. They are good bacteria because they keep the gut healthy by countering the harmful effects of bad bacteria. Alcohol, a poor diet and even antibiotics can upset this balance and jeopardize your health.
Aside from supplements, these good bacteria can also be found in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kombucha. Thus, as they can influence the health of our guts, can they also do the same for our skin?
PROBIOTICS AND SKIN CARE
Similar to the gut, the skin also contains a large population of microflora that can affect its appearance. A change in this microflora can result in dull and prematurely aged skin. It can also trigger inflammatory skin conditions such as redness and acne.
The topical use of probiotics on the skin can help to alleviate these concerns by balancing out the skin’s bacterial population. A benefit of this would be added protection against environmental threats such as sun damage.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, probiotics can help to diminish the signs of aging by encouraging the production of collagen.
Probiotics also help to hydrate the skin, alleviate redness and sensitivity as well as combat inflammatory skin concerns such as acne, psoriasis and eczema (2).
DOES MY SKIN NEED PROBIOTICS?
Our lifestyle choices aren’t only affecting our gut health but they’re also disrupting the microfloral balance in our skin. Furthermore, the use of skincare products rich in parabens and sulfates can also cause disarray.
Hence, those with sensitive skin, inflammatory flareups as well as those living in a city will each benefit from including probiotics in their skincare regimes. In fact, a study from the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that they could actually be the key to both acne and rosacea treatments.
NOTE: This blog is a re-post from an article posted on Longevitylive.com
