One thing health professionals are almost certain of is the extraordinary healing power of gut bacteria. Having the right bacteria in your gut is associated with improved insulin resistance, improved mental health, mitigation of autoimmune diseases, overcoming sugar cravings, and weight loss. The benefits do not stop there.
Every month new studies emerge highlighting a new gut flora function. I won’t call good gut bugs a miracle, but if any aspect of healing comes close, it’s these guys.
We also know that good gut flora reduce the severity of acne. This makes sense: acne is largely caused by inflammation, and good gut flora reduce inflammation.
People who regularly consume fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, unpasteurized yogurt, kefir, kombucha, or natto, or those who take a probiotic supplement, often see a reduction in their acne.
Can we apply the same principles to our skin?
The dermatologist’s premise
Very few dermatologists believe that the food you eat is important for the quality of your skin. This is mad! Bodies are literally made out of the food that goes into them. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure Dante reserved the fifth level of hell in Inferno for medical professionals deliberately blind to this fact.
Anyway.
According to standard dermatological wisdom, acne is caused by bacteria. To an extent, this is true. Bad bacteria in the skin can cause mini-infections in pores, which then become inflamed. Dermatologists noticed this phenomena and began developing antibiotic pills and antibiotic creams like Benzoyl Peroxide to wipe out the infectious bacteria on the skin. This works, to an extent. Benzoyl Peroxide may decrease antioxidant power in the skin and cause more acne in the long run, but the antibiotic method does sometimes work.
The standard response to the dermatological premise
Smart health practitioners (like me!) call bullshit on dermatology, and they recommend that food is medicine. Correcting hormone imbalances and reducing inflammation via a healthy, paleo-type diet works wonders for the skin. This is the right — or, at least, healthiest — way to fight the acne battle.
Going one step further
What if, some researchers have asked, our skins are like our guts? What if the problem isn’t bacteria in the first place, but an imbalance?
Researchers led by Dr. Huiling Li at UCLA lifted P. acnes bacteria from the pores of 49 acne-prone and 52 clear-complexioned volunteers. They found were more than 1,000 strains of the bacteria, from which they were able to identify genes unique to each strain.
Of these 1000 strains, some appear to be bad, some good, and others superheroes.
This research did find certain strains of “negative” P. acnes that are more common in acne-prone skin than in clear-skin. This lends credence to the theory that bacteria cause acne. Negative bacteria seem to appear slightly more often in acne-prone skin than in clear skin.
More importantly and interestingly, however, they also found a strain of P. acnes bacteria that is common in healthy skin, yet rarely ever found on acne prone skin.
Perhaps you should go back and read that last sentence again. It is that important.
It means that those with clear skin have “good” bacteria that appeared to keep the “bad” pimple-triggering bacteria at bay. The good bacteria reduce inflammation. They promote healthy skin function. They prevent acne.
Who has good bacteria versus bad on their skin? Genetics play a crucial role in who gets doled out the lucky hand. Other factors probably have to do with lifestyle choices. Taking antibiotics in the past may have killed off the important P. Acnes strain. Harsh chemicals, over-drying soaps, sun exposure, and over-exfoliating the skin can also deplete P. acnes populations.
C’mon… does that really work?
Well. The science on this is new, and the availability of treatment is limited. There’s not a whole lot of discussion out there on acne forums or anything. No one seems to be saying much of anything. Though Chris Kresser recommends topical probiotics, so I’m sure they’ll become popular soon.
You can read more about acne and topical probiotics in several other new studies – here, here, and here. In each of them the results are robust. Probiotics work.
More importantly for me – I have tried them. The first time I sprayed on my P. Acnes, I noticed a difference within days. I simply got fewer breakouts. I did this in the fall of 2013 for a few months, continuing through January 2014. At this point my skin was pretty great, so I stopped treatment.
My skin started acting up again over the summer of 2014. I ordered more P. Acnes. Lo and behold, that was one week ago, and I haven’t had a new pimple since.
I also started to get acne on my shoulders and shoulder blades in the spring of 2014. It’s been an incredible pain – both literally and figuratively. Since I sprayed my back, my bumps have levelled out, and I haven’t gotten a new breakout. It’s worked so well, even I am sceptical, but I cannot doubt what good it’s done.
I can’t promise miracles, but I can promise a good chance of reducing inflammation on your skin, which in all likelihood will at least help with your acne. It won’t fix hormone imbalance or systemic inflammation, but it can help.
What to do about it
Fortunately, even though this science is quite new, some companies have caught wind of this really cool phenomenon.
There are a few creams available on Amazon, like this one, this one, and this one.
A serum like this one.
Or, what I personally use, a probiotic spray by the company Probiotic Action. Treatment that lasts (in my experience) about 8 weeks costs less than $15, and I (again, personally) notice a difference right away. Give them a try if you like here.
ALSO, Probiotic Action has been kind enough to provide us with a discount code!
Enter J3J74P5V7TQI at checkout and get 18% off!!
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Lovely article! I’m happy to see that research is looking into this. I personally use a paste of home-made curd whey with sandalwood powder as a face-wash everyday. In India, there is a tradition of using home-made curd as a facepack for various skin aliments. Maybe it works on the same principle of probiotics in food being beneficial for the skin.
There are certain bacteria that thrive in places where oxygen is available, hence the term aerobic, whereas there are also bacteria that thrive through fermentation rather than cellular respiration. There are some probiotics that do not need oxygen to live, which the probiotics which are found in yogurt. Those probiotics will not do anything to your skin if applied as yogurt because they cannot survive in the presence of oxygen; they are the anaerobes. However, there are certain bacteria, these are the probiotics in Probiotic Action, that do need oxygen to survive, and those are the ones you want to put on your skin. Not all probiotics are the same and it’s important to know the difference
Just found you today and will be an avid follower. I have learned so much already and I am looking forward to learning more. My motto is, Knowledge is Power.
I have a question though, what is the “flares” shown along with the social media icons?
My husband got the same spray and has had great results.
I make water kefir (fermented water) that I drink for probiotics. I’m thinking of putting some into a spritzer bottle and spraying on my face. It has 13 strains of lactobacilli, 5 of streptococci/lactococci, and 6 strains of yeast (not the bad candida abicans), but NO P acnes. Would my skin benefit at all? Many thanks 🙂
Quite possibly! Please let me know the outcome if you do!
I know that I’m a few years late but I wanted to chime in on using undiluted water kefir on the face. I only just started using mine in such a way and the difference thus far is pretty amazing. I’m 44 years old and still breaking out on the regular. I haven’t done the spritzing method but instead I have a pint of water kefir in a mason jar. I fold a washcloth in quarters, dip it into the jar, and then proceed to “wash” my face with the wet washcloth. For now, I will continue doing this method because it’s working.
Awesome, thanks for letting us know. Really this is helpful <3
I’ve recently purchased some of the probiotic spray and I have been using it for around 6 days. I haven’t noticed any difference in my acne. How long does it typically take to work in your experience?
I personally noticed a small difference almost immediately, then more over time. What else are you doing?
I was using manuka honey, but I stopped that and the probiotics have made a significant difference. Did you wash your face with anything or just with water?
Is the spray just an add on to your skincare routine? I contacted the probiotic spray company and they advised I not use anything but, the spray?
They advise not to use anything else because it can interfere with the bacteria at work! And for me that’s easy because my routine is nothing but water, a soft washcloth, and a very thin daily dose of cetaphil moisturizer.
I just found this site, thanks for posting about the spray! I ordered some and wondered-can we wear make-up if we apply the spray at night and wash it off in the morning? I don’t want to scare anyone off at work! 🙂 How much of an interference would that be if it’s washed off later?
It’s not an interference at all. Feel free to apply and wash off whenever you like, though of course its more effective to use it consistently. You can wear some make up too of course during the day – just try for a few days to do as little as possible in terms of foundation, etc. 🙂
I use kefir as a daily face mask… cleared up everything! All of my adult acne gone, and my dark marks and red spots fading fast. This is my homemade kefir which contains other varieties of the P. bacteria family. I’m led to believe that the P. acnes is pushed out and kept to a minimum by these other P. variants.
All I know for sure is that I have the lovely skin back that I haven’t seen since I was 13. Now I’m 42, and it’s about time!
I rub my body down with kefir once a week, and facial mask daily. Best thing I ever did.
Gloria, I cannot thank you enough for this post. I make kefir and have never thought of using it as a mask! You are awesome!
Gloria, would you be willing to share your kefir recipe or instructions for making the face mask? And where do you buy your ingredient(s)?
I forgot to say that all it costs is the milk! Waaay cheaper than the crap they try to sell you. Make your own kefir and slap it on, rinse it off. The big investment is time!
What do you think about Liz Wolfs Skintervention e-book? Worth buying?
YES! Although, sneak peak super sneak peak heads up, Liz and I are re-writing skinterventions together and the new book will be out early fall we think!!!
Hi there, just wondering, when you say you sprayed on your P.Acnes, are you referring to the probiotic spray whose link you provide — the Probiotic Action one? I was confused because you refer to it as the P.Acnes spray but I thought it was a probiotic spray. Sorry maybe I’m not understanding…
Yes, I believe she meant the Probiotic Action spray when she said she sprayed on a “P. Acnes” spray.
I want to order this, but I’m confused on how to use this product. So can I not wash my face or use anything while using it? I currently wash my face at night with cetaphil and then follow up with cetaphil, and wash in the morning with Manuka Honey. However, I am trying to switch to using only Manuka honey in the morning and night. I don’t wear foundation during the week so this wouln’t be a problem, however I do on weekends, and Manuka isn’t effective in removing makeup, so I dont know what to do for weekends, which is why I’m still using the cetaphil.
Back to the product, For the Emerald spray it says that it only last for 7 days after activating. Does that mean I need to reorder it to have it every 7 days? Or will my face be treated just after 7 days. $24 a week on spray seems a little much!
Also how do I actually use the product? Like when to spray, how, etc.
Thanks so much!
I think it says the mixture you make (by activating it with water) will last seven days, but the concentrated bacteria drops, if left alone, last much longer. so you will get several 7-week supplies 🙂
I ordered the spray on Saturday and received it on Monday!! I live in south Florida and the company is Miami based but WOW, talk about instant satisfaction! Have been using it for less than 24 hours and already notice a significant improvement in my skin. This year I have worked really hard with my diet to improve my skin. I’m 38 so I’m starting to see those fine lines and puffy dark circles. But I’ve also been dealing with pain in the butt hormonal acne since my early 20’s. For me, a huge part of getting better has been totally cutting dairy. I’m working on cutting out grains completely as well (but it’s harrrrrrrd!!!) and getting a paleo/raw fusion going on. I’ve seen a vast improvement in my skin from these dietary changes but not perfect. And I’m a little OCD so I want perfection. I mean I only want perfect porcelain skin, is that too much to ask? Anyway, I’m super impressed with this stuff and a big plus that I didn’t expect is my skin is suddenly really super soft. May need to purchase an economy size of this stuff so I can just bathe in it.
This is awesome!! I recommend letting the company know directly – if you are interesting – I am sure they would love your testimonial 🙂
Do you think there’s any benefit to topical probiotics is you aren’t fighting acne??
I’ve been reading (and loving) your blog for a while, and I decided to give the topical probiotic thing a whirl. I was doing my research on probiotic creams, when I realized that the cream you suggests lists “yogurt” as an ingredient. Decided to put the 50$ purchase on hold and try some good old Stone Mountain. I’ve been putting yogurt on my face every night for two weeks since, and I’ve had one(one!) pimple since, and it was surface. And I was mensturating. I usually have five or so deep ones a week, 6 or 7 while menstruating. I’M SO STOKED. THANK YOU.
I’ve been using the probiotic spray in addition to washing my face with the yogurt since either one on its own wasn’t enough. So glad you added in the idea of using yogurt!
I found this thread after developing my own theory that there should be topical probiotics. We shower to remove dirt and bacteria, however we remove good bacteria as well… The implementation of good bacteria could go much further than acne treatments, what if we can apply a good bacteria under our arms that would keep odor causing bacteria to grow. Having a healthy skin flora would lower the risk of staph infections. The benefits are endless!
Accutane is NOT an antibiotic. It is a widely known fact in the dermatological world that it is a Vitamin A derivative that speeds up cell turnover and reduces oil production. Fewer dead skin cells + less oil in pores = less for bacteria to feed on, thereby effectively curing acne. By definition, antibiotics *kill* bacteria, and Accutane does NOT do this.
Please correct this information in your article and do basic research lest others, like myself, disregard the entirety of your post because of blatantly incorrect information.
Yes – you are correct. Often accutane in health circles is referred to as an antibiotic even though it technically is not, because many people who take the drug suffer a disruption in gut flora populations. Thank you for asking for greater specificity
I agree with you that the food that we eat greatly influences not only our skin but the general health of our body. I think that it’s pretty obvious. Many doctors suggest drinking more water and juices to both reduce redness and wrinkles. If there is a lack of moisture in the body, the blood circulation becomes slower. It which causes a shortage of nutrients, the toxins are not being removed properly.