There just might finally be some good news for people who suffer from acne and other skin care problems.
The latest scientific buzz is all about probiotics and their possible effectiveness in treating skin conditions like acne.
For several years, probiotics have been recommended for primarily gastrointestinal issues, but new studies have shown that these “good” bacteria might just be beneficial to treat acne, too.
When using probiotics to treat certain skin conditions, consumers have a choice between oral (usually in capsule form) dosing and topical treatments.
Emerging clinical trials hint that using both oral and topical probiotics to treat acne may just be the latest skin care science available. Today we are going to take a look at the best probiotics for acne and skin care.
What Are Probiotics And How Can They Treat Acne?
Inside of our digestive tracts, there is a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. The normal ratio is about 5:1 in favor of the good bacteria.
However, there are times when that balance gets thrown out of whack and the good guys start losing the battle.
There are a number of reasons for this imbalance, but the number one reason is the use of antibiotics that have been prescribed to treat a bacterial based infection. Unfortunately, antibiotics kill all of the bacteria, including the good kind.
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that are actually good for you. There are ten times more probiotics (good bacteria) in your gut and digestive tract than cells in the human body.
Probiotics are often called the helpful bacteria because they are thought to help optimize your health.
Believe it or not, your skin and your gut health are closely related. It has been hypothesized that acne is not a skin problem as much as it might be a health problem.
When our digestive tract is out of balance, our skin can pay the price in the form of blackheads, acne, and rosacea. So, it only makes sense that a healthy gut can lead to clearer and healthier skin.
How to Choose the Best Probiotic for Acne and Other Skin Care Issues
After doing your own research, you’ve decided that treating your acne may just be as easy as adding a probiotic to your health regime.
There are three main ways to incorporate a probiotic into your routine. For your convenience, we’ve explained each in greater detail.
Topical Probiotics
There are a variety of cleansers, creams, ointments and acne products that claim to be probiotic.
Some of the most popular products are:
- Andalou Naturals Probiotic and C – Contains live microflora
- Eminence Clear Skin Probiotics 10 Cleanser
- Aurelia Probiotic Skin Care Miracle Cleanser
- Bioess – anti-aging formula
Before choosing an oral formula probiotic, you should know exactly what you are looking to treat. Not all probiotics are the same.
Find out what strains of bacteria are thought to be beneficial for acne or other skin care issues that you want to treat.
You will want to choose a probiotic that has the strand you are looking for. You also want to find a brand that offers a high CFU (Colony Forming Units). We’ve included just a few to show the variances between brands and formulations.
Oral Probiotics
- Renew Life Ultimate Flora – 50,000,000 CFU
- Complete Probiotics Platinum – up to 70,000,000 CFU
- Culturelle Probiotics – 10,000,000 CFU
- Probium Probiotics Multiblend – 12,000,000 CFU
- Dr. Natura Flora Protect – 8,000,000 CFU
Perhaps the best probiotics for acne and skin care problems are from a natural food source. Yogurt, coconut kefir and fermented foods like sauerkraut all contain important probiotics.
One easy way to make your own probiotic-rich food is to fill a glass jar with veggies, water, and salt. Ingredients will ferment within 3-7 days and your vegetables have just turned into little probiotic machines.
If you decide that a probiotic in pill form is the easiest and best choice for you, there are some things that you want to be sure you look for before buying a particular product.
Important Things to Look For When Choosing an Oral Probiotic
- Make sure the strains of bacteria are beneficial for acne and skin care.
- Choose a brand that you know and trust.
- Pay careful attention to the labeling and be sure it guarantees live cultures throughout the shelf life of the product. Many times, the good bacteria are no longer viable by the time you make your purchase.
- When choosing a product, know whether refrigeration is required.
- Your selection should contain a variety of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium to get the maximum benefits.
- Your selection should also contain Longum, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can directly impact certain skin conditions.
- Take the recommended dosage on an empty stomach.
The good news when it comes to choosing an oral or topical probiotic is that they are available at most major retailers and pharmacies.
There is also a huge selection of probiotic products available online through major retailers and specialty stores.
Before starting any oral supplement, it is always recommended that you consult with your doctor to be sure there will be no interactions with medications or medical problems you may have.
There is still some scientific debate about whether probiotics should be used exclusively for the treatment of acne and other skin conditions.
Oral probiotics have been proven to be effective for improving “good” bacteria in the digestive tract and the conclusion is that a healthy gut can lead to healthier conditions for other organs including the skin.
There is also the added benefit of the anti-inflammatory properties found in probiotics. These are thought to have a large impact on skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.
One theory is that acne has nothing to do with oily skin or cosmetics, but could emanate instead from toxins and an abundance of “bad” bacteria that literally transfer themselves to skin tissue.
The Best Probiotics for Your Embarrassing Acne Review Summary
If you are suffering from acne and want to try a different approach, the experts recommend adding probiotic rich foods like kombucha and Greek yogurt.
Topical probiotics and pills, when used together, can also add powerful benefits in the fight against acne and other skin conditions.
Finding a good probiotic that will work for you is simp0ly a matter of doing your research on the various formulas and their intended uses.
