Skin health and your gut - gut skin connection

Digestion is the top healing priority of the body. When the gastrointestinal system can’t properly digest and absorb nutrients, it affects the vitality of the entire body.  Without the integrity of the digestive system, the body cannot support the other foundations of health. It is said that the gut is the “mother” of the body because of how it feeds everything from our brain to our skin, in the same way a mother feeds a child. 

Your gut bacteria play a significant role in keeping you healthy.
In fact, studies in recent decades revealed that a disrupted microbiome can lead to chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, anxiety and many more.

Other findings:

People with depression have lower levels of gut microbes called Coprococcus and Dialister.
Gut microbes can be the culprit behind unwanted weight gain.
Gut microbes may help those with food allergies & skin issues.
People with dementia have lower levels of gut bacteria called Bacteroides (enterotype I) and higher levels of bacteria called enterotype III.
There is a significant relationship between gut bacteria and schizophrenia.

As for the skin health, many skin conditions have been linked to gastrointestinal health / disease.

Some examples:

Eczema / dermatitis - linked to gut dysbiosis, lower gut microbial diversity, Celiac disease, leaky gut, parasites
Rosacea - gut pathologies like Helicobacter pylori infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) often accompany rosacea
Psoriasis - Celiac disease, lower abundance of beneficial microbes, gut dysbiosis, leaky gut
Chronic urticaria / itchy skin conditions - gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, overproduction of histamine by the gut microbiota (caused by gut dysbiosis), parasites
Acne - gut dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, low or imbalanced beneficial bacteria, H Pylori overgrowth

If your skin health is not optimal and dietary changes don’t seem to help, you may find answers by looking into your gut health. A comprehensive gut analysis may help you identify what’s going in your gut.

I often see the following on the GI Map (stool analysis) test with clients who struggle with skin issues:

H Pylori overgrowth - a bacteria normally present in the stomach but has the potential to cause problems when there is an overgrowth (known to have a causative role in ulcers, chronic gastritis, stomach cancer, skin problems, etc.)

Low or imbalanced beneficial bacteria - balanced microbiome plays an important role in human health. I have seen low beneficial bacteria in clients with acne and other skin conditions, also with alopecia and other autoimmune disorders

Opportunistic bacteria overgrowth (dysbiosis) - may cause inflammation in the gut, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, skin problems, etc.

Yeast (Candida) overgrowth - fungal organisms are commonly found in the digestive tract but fungal overgrowth can cause health problems including GI issues, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, skin problems, etc.

Elevated Beta-Glucuronidase - when we see this enzyme elevated, it can indicate unfavorable metabolic changes in the colon. It may indicate dysbiosis and problems with detoxification. High levels are associated with estrogen dominance and an increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers or digestive tract cancer.

My approach is to recommend dietary and lifestyle interventions and a gut healing protocol to address the findings on the GI Map test which may include eradication and healing agents, functional support and probiotics to rebalance the microbiome.

Source: The GI Microbial Assay Plus, GI Map, Quantitative PCR Stool Technology for the Integrative and Functional Medicine Practitioner by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory

GI Map by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory - General information about using the GI Map by Restorative Wellness Solutions, LLC

Restorative Wellness Solutions

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