Believe it or not, the skin is the largest organ of the human body. Functional purposes aside, a lot of attention has been diverted to the aesthetic benefits of glowing skin. 

People have tried tanning, serums, face masks, face packs, vampire facials, gold facials and every other fad under the sun to alter their skin health and appearance, but one unique and natural alternative is probiotics. Both dietary probiotics and a topical probiotic facial cleanser can help smooth and brighten your skin.

At We Are Wild, we know that all-natural products can bring you joy. Probiotics are a solution that helps you feel renewed both inside and out. Although probiotics live in the gut, they are crucial when it comes to skincare. Here’s why.

What is a probiotic?

Probiotics are the naturally occurring “good” bacteria that tend to reside in the gut but are also found in many other parts of the body - including your skin. Some facial cleansers strip your skin of these healthy microorganisms, disrupting your skin's natural bacterial ecosystem. The more good bacteria you have, the harder it is for bad bacteria to enter your body ex: eczema, acne, etc.

What are the best dietary sources of probiotics?

Thankfully, one doesn’t have to search far to look for good sources of probiotics. There are quite a few options available. The general rule of thumb is that if it’s a fermented food, it is most likely probiotic as well. Fermented ingredients are beneficial for skincare products, helping to extend shelf life and revitalize your skin’s ecosystem - which is home to over 1 million bacteria. That’s why our skincare products at We Are Wild contain lactobacillus and fermented antioxidant-rich ingredients. 

The most common sources of probiotic food are:

Why fermented foods? During the fermentation process, the food undergoes lacto-fermentation. During this process, natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food, creating lactic acid. This creates a suitable environment for enzymes, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids - all nutrients that are good for your digestive system.

Apart from naturally occurring dietary sources, there are readily available probiotics supplements. 

Looking for the best face wash for dry skin? Check out We are Wild probiotic products!

What are the important strains to look for on labels?

When it comes to including probiotic food in one’s diet, it is not as easy as grabbing a pre-packaged yogurt from the grocery store. Most packaged yogurts undergo pasteurization, which essentially destroys the probiotic bacteria. 

While one can look out for (L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) on the label, there is something more important that you can look for. To be 100% sure that the food item is probiotic, especially if its packaged, look for the ‘live active cultures’ label. Probiotics that have been found to provide health benefits include various strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces.

Related: Probiotic cleanser

What are the benefits of including probiotics in your diet?

There are many benefits of including probiotics in a diet. These include,

1. Improved Gut Health

It is no surprise that if the gut is healthy, the overall health of a person is more likely to be in good condition as well. Probiotics absorb the nutrients from the food and pass it on. After including probiotics in the diet, there will be a significant improvement in how the gut functions.

2. Improved Mental Health

Many studies link gut health and mental health as well. Common strains like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and memory. 

3. Improves Skin’s Condition

Probiotics aid in many functional aspects of the body, many of which are responsible for how the health and appearance of your skin. In addition to consuming probiotics to promote the ratio of good bacteria over bad bacteria, topically applying a probiotic facial cleanser can have a more direct effect on preventing bad bacteria from entering your skin.

What Skin Types Benefit from Probiotics?

Topical probiotics are extremely versatile. For dry and/or dull skin, they help to keep it soft and smooth. Probiotics have also been shown to help oily and acne-prone skin, shielding bad microorganisms by producing antimicrobial peptides. Our Solid Water Probiotic Toner, for instance, helps hydrate the skin with probiotics. It helps create dewiness and skin moisturization. Solid Clean, a probiotic cleanser, can help brighten dry skin. It’s also great for helping to maintain smooth skin and regulating oily skin. 

Probiotics for Skincare and Skin pH

Probiotics can help restore skin Ph to a healthy balance, at or near the ideal pH of 5.5. Probiotics help create the natural balance of natural flora, eliminating the possibility of redness and oiliness.

What is the correlation between your stomach/gut and your skin?

Now, one might wonder how gut health and skincare are interlinked. The common link here is the process of detoxification. As mentioned earlier, the process of absorbing nutrients from food takes place in the gut, for which one needs a healthy level of probiotic bacteria in them.

If the gut is healthy, it is absorbing more nutrients. But if it’s in bad shape, the balance between good and bad bacteria is disturbed. This gives way to various problems throughout your body, such as inflammation, acne, and other skin problems. 

How can you tell if your diet is affecting the condition of your skin?

The only way to tell whether or not a diet is affecting your skin is to try different diets. The first step is to include essential supplements and a healthy diet. 

Swap out a major chunk of processed foods for healthier alternatives. Once a routine is established for a period of two weeks, you should notice significant changes in your skin’s condition.

Related: Natural Skin Cleansers for Active People 

How can you tell if a probiotic will benefit you?

There are many symptoms that point to the positive reaction of probiotics. These include improved digestion, clearer skin, and stronger immunity. 

How often should you take probiotics?

There is a simple rule to follow when it comes to taking probiotics. There should be around 20 to 50 billion live organisms per dose and it should contain a combination of different strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. One can either opt for food items that contain probiotics or probiotic supplements.

What can probiotics cure?

There is little to no proof about probiotics ‘curing’ any condition, skin or otherwise. However, probiotics provide a boost to many ongoing treatments. 

Probiotics are essential for normal bodily functions like digestion, serotonin production, etc. If a person suffers from acne or indigestion, probiotics can be a great supporting element in their treatments.

What is the difference between a probiotic and an antibiotic?

Simply put, probiotics ARE bacteria - the good kind. As seen earlier, they provide a ton of benefits to one’s body. Antibiotics are ingested to kill bacteria, good and bad. 

When a person takes an antibiotic, they are killing probiotics as well. Hence it is recommended to increase probiotic intake in such a scenario.

Conclusion

The process of having clear and healthy skin is not one-dimensional - it requires a holistic approach and a big part of this approach is maintaining gut health.

The other aspect is to take active measures that your skin is being taken care of. Be gentle on your skin and avoid harsh scrubbing while having a bath. Make sure your diet includes fiber to hold the food together and help with gut health. 

By following a 360-degree approach to skincare, you’re much more likely to see results. That’s why our products at We Are Wild incorporate probiotics in our Solid Clean Probiotic Cleanser and Solid Water Probiotic Toner. By using these, you’ll learn just how easy a rejuvenating skincare routine can be.

Looking for an all natural skin care solution to your acne or to prevent aging? Check out We Are Wild!