The use of probiotics is booming, but did you know that each type brings different benefits to your skin? We show you which are the recommended ones to get the best results
Our body hosts more than one million microbes , a generic term for all those organisms invisible to the naked eye, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microbes, or microorganisms, play a crucial role in a broad spectrum of health problems , since they can spread deadly diseases to protect against them. Although we have known for some time the benefits of "good bacteria" in the intestine (thanks to 'active' yogurts), recent studies have shown that the same premise can be applied to the quality of our skin. It is time to find out what those 'bugs' we need to regain maximum splendor.
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"The bacterial colonies of the intestine are directly linked to the skin: you will not have good skin if the condition of your intestine is not optimal, " explains nutritionist Kamilla Schaffner , My London , whose clientele includes from distressed urbanites with a lot of work and little time even mothers in the postpartum period or patients with chronic health problems. "On the other hand, the skin itself has a complex ecosystem , or microbiome, similar to the intestinal flora," says skin care expert Lisa Franklin. As Dr. Justine Hexhall points out , our skin is "the body's first defense and communicates constantly with our immune system . " Nobody knows better than this dermatologist, accustomed to advise from its clinic, Tarrant Street Clinic (in Arundel) to innumerable insiders of the world of beauty.
You may ignore it happily, but your body is literally plagued with microbes , with more than a million of them in every square inch of skin. But this is a good thing : "Healthy microbiomes self-pollinate to ensure that one type of bacteria does not dominate the others," says Lisa Franklin . According to Dr. Whitney Bowe, author of The beauty of Dirty Skin , we can be our worst enemy when it comes to protecting this delicate infrastructure . "If your good microorganisms are healthy, so will your skin , because they are essential to fight infections, protect from environmental damage, stimulate our immune system and keep skin hydrated and radiant.Our obsession with antibacterial cleansers strips the skin of its healthy bacteria , "he explains. "If the healthy microbiome of the skin is interrupted, rashes, rosacea breakouts, psoriasis, eczema and even sensitive skin occur."
The alarming thing is that in these cases, our digestive system works at par. "I do all my patients intestinal tests and more than 90 percent have NG [no growth of beneficial bacteria] , averts Nigma Talib , naturopath and author of Younger Skin Starts in the Gut and famous for serving to prestigious clients. "Age, diet, lack of probiotics, exposure to antibiotics and pregnancy can affect this."
The rescue comes in the form of a wide range of products in constant growth: probiotics, prebiotics and even postbiotics. All come prepared to be taken orally and ready to permanently sneak into our care routines. " The American Academy of Dermatology has extolled the great advance of probiotics for the skin due to its healing, soothing and antimicrobial properties," explains Franklin. "They can help in many ways and, depending on the type of probiotic you use, your skin will get different results," confirms Claire Vero , creator of the Aurelia Probiotic Skincare brand. But with more than 1,000 different strains at our disposal, what kind of probiotic should we turn to?
Skin prone to the appearance of spots
What to drink: Schaffner recommends inulin powder , a prebiotic fiber that arrives undigested in the small intestine and once there, helps bacterial proliferation.
What to use: skin care containing eutropha nitrosomes (such as AO + Mist from Mother Dirt ). "In one month, users see a 35 percent increase in skin cleansing," says Bowe. Somewhat later in the year, think of products containing enterococcus faecalis SL-5 , a new "natural antibiotic" known as enterocin (if you're imagining where faecalis comes from, you can imagine: it comes from the intestinal flora). According to a recent study, Dr. Hextall says it reduces acne by 50 percent in eight weeks.
What to eat: "Natural sources of inulin, such as bananas, onions and sweet potatoes , as well as apple cider vinegar , with anti-acne benefits," says Schaffner.
Dry skin with a tendency to eczema
What to take: lactobacillus rhamnosus produces lactic acid, which balances the pH of the skin and, thereby, protects it from bad bacteria.
What to use: the cause of eczema is a dominance of staphylococcus aureus, but regular use of Prebiotic Thermal Spring Water, from La Roche-Posay , can help the cultivation of healthy bacteria to reduce staphylococcal levels. They have also added the APB prebiotic (a form of vitreoscilla filiformis) , known to improve the skin with severe dryness.
What to eat: " Spirulina and olives contain prebiotics that retain moisture, " advises Schaffner.
Sensitive skin with a tendency to rosacea
What to take: Bifidobacterium lactis and lactobacillus paracasei provide an anti-inflammatory aid against rosacea and sensitive skin.
What to use: "The results published in the European Journal of Dermatology show that topical application of lactobacillus paracasei reduces inflammation and allergic reactions," explains Franklin. It is found, for example, in the Elizabeth Arden Superstart Probiotic Boost Mask , which moisturizes and soothes reactive skins.
What to eat: Foods rich in natural probiotics, such as aloe vera, yogurt and kefir, "says Schaffner.
Skin aged and damaged by the sun
What to take: Lactobacillus plantarum , since "there are studies that show that it preserves collagen, so that it protects against UVB rays, reduces wrinkles and improves elasticity," says Bowe.
What to use: the non-living bifidoglycoprotein used in Aurelia's treatments is the result of 10 years of research. "It calms the immune response that unleashes pollution and stress and thereby reduces damage to collagen, so it has more anti-aging properties than other probiotics, " explains Claire Vero.
What to eat: " Chrorella and fungi , both antioxidant prebiotics that protect against aging and sun damage ."
Glossary
-Probiotics: "They are what probiotics feed on to live," explains Dr. Bowe.
Benefits for the skin: nourishes it for the proliferation of good bacteria and increases bacterial diversity, crucial in our body.
- Probiotics: living microbes that preserve or recover good bacteria.
Benefits for the skin: reinforces the protective barrier, fights harmful bacteria and controls inflammation.
-Postbiotics: "Bacterial waste products that reinforce the protective barrier of the skin, including: enzymes, acids and peptides."
Benefits for the skin: combating allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, acne and helps the proliferation of beneficial bacteria.
5 tricks to know how to buy probiotics
- Check the ingredients of the skin treatments: "If the probiotic is not near the top , it is too diluted to work," says Vero.
- Choose supplements with a head: "Choose the one with lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 endorsed by 30 years of results," says Talib.
- Search above all: "Supplements of 'delayed release . Probiotics are protected from stomach acid and will reach the intestine intact, "advises Dr. Bowe.
- It starts with: "A probiotic containing 10 to 15 billion CFU (colony forming units) and go up, since you may experience some swelling when you colonize your bowel again," Bowe adds.
- Check that the packaging is appropriate: "Skin care with probiotics are very sensitive to both light and air, so the glass and vacuum-free containers are the best," says Franklin.