Gut Health Determines Your Skin, 5 Gut Care Tips for Your Skin

The correlation between the gut and the skin

For a long time, there have been attempts in the medical community to detect and clarify the relationship between the gut and the skin.

The first papers on the relationship between the gut and the skin appeared in the 1970s. It was a paper with a title that questioned whether the connection between the gut and the skin was true or fanciful. Unfortunately, there were no suitable tools for research at the time, so this hypothesis seemed to be a moot point.

As time passed, the hypothesis that the skin, brain, and intestines are connected by a single axis resurfaced in 2012. One of the most prominent was the rat experiment. According to a study at the time, stress on the brains of mice caused hair loss, and this hair loss could be treated through lactic acid bacteria. In other words, the cause was caused in the brain, the symptoms were caused in the skin, and the treatment was done in the gut.

In 2017, Professor Bae Jung-min of the Catholic University of Korea published a paper showing that he was able to find a statistically significant number of skin problems in patients with intestinal problems. Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea were the most common skin infections involved.

Based on these studies, in 2018, demodectic treatment, intestinal therapy, and Helicobacter bacterium treatment were performed on patients who received injections. Of the three methods, the treatment of demodectic worms was the most effective, but it was also possible to see skin improvement results when the bowel treatment was performed.

To date, it's not clear exactly how the gut-brain-skin communicate with each other, but it's worth noting that they are statistically related and that gut therapy can improve skin conditions.

5 gut care tips for your skin

So, how do we take care of the gut, which plays a central role in our body? Here's how to manage your gut health in 5 steps.

The first step is Removal. Don't eat foods that are bad for gut health. Cutting out allergenic foods, alcohol, flour, saturated fats, and foods with too much artificial flavoring is a key step in maintaining gut health.

The second step is Replace. When the body digests food, it needs not only stomach acid, but also a lot of enzymes, such as bile, pancreatic enzymes, and amylase. Those who are deficient in these enzymes should eat foods that protect against stomach acid, such as red vinegar or diluted vinegar, or seek help from supplements.

The third step is lactic acid bacteria (Reinoculate). We do not recommend probiotics from the beginning, but it is recommended to cut out foods that are bad for the intestines, replenish enzymes, and then take probiotics. It is also helpful to eat prebiotics that are rich in lactic acid bacteria, such as kiwi and banana.

The fourth step is Repair. If you have taken probiotics, you can take additional nutrients that moisten and regenerate the intestinal mucosa. Typical supplements that are good for intestinal damage are glutamine, zinc, omega-3, and colostrum.

The fifth step is to make lifestyle changes (Rebalance). Sitting in a slouched position or wearing tight clothing for long periods of time can be a detriment to gut health. Also, you should avoid eating late-night snacks as this will reduce bowel movement. By correcting these lifestyle habits, it is possible to rebuild the intestinal mucosa.