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Acne, by far, is one of the most common—albeit confusing, frustrating, and mysterious—skin conditions out there. It's highly personal, and there is hardly a practical, one-size-fits-all approach for treating breakouts, even though we're often prescribed blanket quick fixes in the form of supplements or topical skin care products. What works for hormonal chin and mouth-centric breakouts likely won't be the best solution for the occasional red angry bump or two, which is why consulting a dermatologist is paramount.
Despite giving up hope for a miracle skin solution for everyone, we've been overhearing more and more chatter about the relationship between good skin and the health of the bacteria in your gut. Many people say the addition of probiotics (be it via supplement or skincare) might be the fix for a blemish-prone complexion, but could popping a bacteria-laden pill or switching out our skincare routine with probiotic-enriched formulas be the answer? Keep reading to learn more about probiotics for acne and expert-backed tips for including them in your routine.
Meet the Expert
- Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon with a focus on cosmetic enhancement procedures for both the face and body as well as skin cancer treatment. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, and American College of Mohs Surgery.
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a dermatologist who treats both medical and cosmetic skin concerns to address total skin health. He is Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skincare Junkie.
Probiotics
Type of Ingredient: Bacterial supplement
Main benefits: Calms internal and external inflammation, restores skin barrier function, and offers protection from harmful environmental particles.
Who should use it: While anyone can benefit from probiotics, they will be especially helpful for those with inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, or rosacea, or anyone suffering from dryness or sensitivity due to a disrupted skin barrier.
How often can you use it: It is safe to use both oral and topical probiotics daily, both morning and night.
Works well with: Ingredients like ceramides, which also help strengthen skin's protective barrier.
What Are Probiotics?
"Probiotics are ingredients that promote the growth of healthy bacteria in our bodies," Zeichner explains. "True probiotics are live organisms that may be found in fermented foods like yogurt or high-quality supplements. When taken by mouth, they can help normalize your gut bacteria, improve the microbiome of your digestive tract, and subsequently reduce inflammation throughout the body, including the skin."
Essentially, probiotics are living, gut-friendly bacteria that can benefit our overall well-being by regulating our digestion, fighting potential pathogens or environmental damage, and even strengthening our immune system. Specific inflammation-related skin disorders (acne, rosacea, and eczema) can flare up when something throws our gut's balance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria off-kilter. An unbalanced bacteria ratio may damage our intestinal lining, which then invites irritating substances to make their way into our bloodstream. This triggers our immune system, leading to inflammation throughout our bodies.
Benefits of Probiotics for Acne
Probiotics offer both internal and external benefits, and one method of use may yield better results than another for each person. Such benefits include:
- Calms internal inflammation: Taking probiotics is the best bet to keep the lining of your digestive tract smooth and robust. "Acne-causing bacteria promote inflammation in the skin, leading to acne breakouts," says Zeichner. "The theory behind the use of probiotics for acne is that it can normalize the balance of healthy bacteria on the skin to reduce inflammation."
- Inhibits production of Propionibacterium acnes: Probiotics applied to the skin consistently led to fewer instances of the P. acnes bacteria that causes acne, according to an article in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology.
- Protects skin from environmental damage: Fighting off external sources of irritation or infection is easier when probiotics bolster your skincare. "Probiotics can create 'holes' in bad bacteria and kill them," Engelman elaborates. "Similar to the way antibiotics work in the treatment of acne and rosacea, probiotics can help fight harmful bugs from triggering that inflammation in the first place."
- Strengthens skin's natural moisture barrier: If you've scrubbed too vigorously with cleansers and other products, probiotics help restore the skin's natural barrier function, which is vital to banishing redness, sensitivity, breakouts, and irritation.
Side Effects of Probiotics for Acne
Probiotic skincare does not have any notable side effects. It is important to note that introducing probiotics into your digestive system may stir things up a bit, so probiotics might possibly increase the number of breakouts you see. There are extra steps to take that can protect your microbiome if you are introducing probiotics orally, so it is best to speak with a healthcare professional before starting. Also, always consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, says Engelman.
How to Use Probiotics for Acne
As we've explored, there are two main options for introducing probiotics into your skincare routine. Eating, drinking (kombucha, anyone?), or supplementing them is one option. "Probiotics may be taken by mouth as an effective yet indirect way to treat acne," Zeichner explains. "In situations where the gut microbiome is altered, a patient can develop inflammation within their digestive tract, which spills over to the general circulation as well as the skin. Correcting a 'leaky gut' by eating or supplementing with probiotics may help calm inflammation in the skin as well as improve acne."
The other option is to work some probiotics into your a.m. and p.m. skin care routines. "Topical skin care products do not typically contain live microorganisms," says Zeichner. "Most contain prebiotics, which are essentially foods that preferentially support growth and healthy bacteria on the skin."
Probiotic-infused products include cleansers, serums, moisturizers, oils, and masks, meaning there's a way for everyone to introduce these hardworking organisms into their lives. Brands like Tula Skincare have made probiotics a core part of their formulations. Not sure where to start? Try a serum, like Good Light We Come In Peace Microbiome Serum ($22) or Shielded Beauty Night Life “Live” Probiotic + HA Serum ($55) "For probiotics, serums are best. Serums are meant to be the workhorse products of the skincare routine. They deliver powerful doses of actives to target a specific skin concern at lower molecular weights," says Engelman. An overnight essence featuring probiotics, like Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X ($43) or True Botanicals Microbiome Enzyme Essence ($82) also deliver probiotics effectively to the skin.
Keep in mind that probiotics are not a magic wand for all types of acne. "We are learning increasingly more about the gut-skin connection and the importance of the skin microbiome, or the flora of the skin, in maintaining skin health," Murphy-Rose says. "This is not to say that all you need to do to control acne is to concentrate on the microbiome and to take probiotics. However, this is one part of an acne regimen that may contribute to clear skin."
Final Thoughts
However powerful they are, probiotics probably won't have the power to completely transform and prevent breakouts—especially if underlying issues like genetics are the likely cause. Still, supplementing your diet with probiotics and adding them into your skincare routine is a promising avenue to explore in the quest to banish acne.
