Are Skin Microbiomes the Next Big Thing in Beauty? An Expert Weighs In

Ingestible collagen had its moment in 2018 and, if anything, helped us understand the role our diet plays in skin health. While the beauty industry is no stranger to fads, once we discovered how to take care of our skin from the inside out, we knew this particular movement was no fleeting trend. But it turns out that the microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria in our gut) has a lot more to do with a glowy, clear complexion than we ever knew.

When it comes to microbiome health,Zach Bush, M.D.,is as knowledgeable as they come. As one of the few triple-board-certified physicians in the country, he’s become an expert on the role that chemical farming has on the gut, and in turn, our overall health. We tapped Dr. Bush to learn more about the sudden interest in this topic and how it relates to having skin that looks (and feels) healthy.

“The microbiome is a diverse ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, yeast, parasites and viruses in our body. We now know that every human organ—including the skin—has a healthy micro-ecosystem within it,” Dr. Bush told us.

“When the gut microbiome is injured by food and medical antibiotic exposure, leaky gut can be a common consequence,” he said. “We also see inflammation in myriad forms develop as a result of an overstressed immune system. As our gut barrier and microbiome are compromised, the toxicity that accumulates in the body is often expressed through the skin. We can see evidence of this in dry or cracking skin, acne, eczema, psoriasis, thinning of the skin, hair loss, excessive facial hair growth and pigment changes (such as vitiligo), as well as infections like herpes and impetigo.”

“绝大多数的化妆,头发and skin care products have chemical ingredients that undermine the skin microbiome and immune function. Among the most harmful are phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors such as DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea and imidazolidinyl urea. Also be on the lookout for resorcinol, which is used as an antibiotic and disinfectant in topical acne treatments,” Dr. Bush explained.

“It’s critical to find organic products and remain alert to the stress that your skin products may be creating,” he said. “Let your skin breathe and avoid full makeup on a daily basis. Support gut biodiversity and your gut barrier by taking supplements likeION*Gut Health, which is microbiome communication derived from fossil soils to reignite a healthy microbiome and support a strong gut barrier.”

Clearly, the key to a healthy microbiome starts internally. But if you need to address specific conditions associated with a compromised microbiome (like super-dry skin, eczema, acne and psoriasis), there are some topical treatments that can help to get your skin back into glowing health.

Here are five bacteria-infused products we love.