The Gut-Skin Health Connection

It might be strange that what’s going on in your gut is reflected in your skin. Still, growing evidence supports that dermal disorders, particularly inflammatory ones, are often intimately linked to an imbalance in the gut and its microbiome. 

The foundations of a healthy gut start early in the womb and then continue to change and adjust for the next two years or so, tending to settle around three. From infancy, the environment plays a much more significant role in this ongoing gut development as factors like daycare, pets and antibiotics (generally highly damaging to the gut microbiome) come into the mix. 

When your child’s friendly gut bacteria are reduced, some of the symptoms can include low energy, poor concentration, constant colds and cases of flu – and skin issues like eczema.   

There is good news, though. Research has established that by improving the ‘good bacteria’ like probiotics and prebiotics in the gut, there are benefits to managing skin disorders like acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis - the most common conditions amongst children.

For a better microbiome, focus on your child’s diet by upping their fruit and vegetables and encouraging prebiotic-rich foods like onions, garlic, chicory and artichokes - usually hidden in things like homemade pasta sauces, and probiotic foods like yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso, sourdough bread and some cheeses. 

Or, you could consider including a prebiotic supplement into their daily routine, particularly after taking a course of antibiotics. 

Although the study around this field is still very new, there’s hope that the continued research will improve our understanding of the complexities of the gut-skin axis and how we can better leverage its influence on managing skin disease.  

You can find Childlife Essentials Probiotics with Colostrum here.