With the summer months creeping in, your skin protection is going to take a step up with daily SPF application (and the bronze effect will be bronzing). Let's talk about the probiotic strains for your skin health that will support your skin's integrity and leave you with your summer glow all year round.
If you're reading this, I know you know the importance of sun protection.
Especially if you were raised in northern latitudes, I know you probably don't even look out the bedroom window without applying at least SPF 30.
Your skin, like your gut, is home to millions of micro organisms that compose the microbiota. The probiotic strains for your skin health are micro organisms that have a similar role on the skin as they do in the gut; they are responsible for protection against invaders, education of the immune system found on your skin, and breakdown of natural products that the skin comes into contact with (Byrd, 2018).
Your skin is your body's largest detoxifying organ. It doesn't need special treatment, it was designed to do really great things for your body such as:
sensation
mobility
play a role in immunity
play a role in the endocrine system
Here's my thing: protecting skin that's seen better days is like putting a phone case on a phone that's already shattered.
I'm not saying it's not worth it. I'm saying, you'll feel better about protecting skin that's already got a strong sense of integrity and the ability to maintain its barrier strength.
So let's talk about three bacteria strains that you can utilize, through a probiotic, that will give you radiant, strong, supple skin to take pride in protecting from the sun's rays.
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG
This strain is used extensively in yogurt and cheese fermentation, so it is already easy to come by...unless you don't consume dairy products. This strain has been researched extensively and has become a reliable strain for treating atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children (Carucci, 2022). It is a highly bioavailable strain of bacteria that survives the trip to the gut.
Some probiotic marketing verbage will stress the importance of bacteria surviving the trip to the gut without giving you context. So you may very well be persuaded to purchase a product based on its viability within the digestive tract- and that's absolutely ok.
I just want you to know that this strain survives naturally, no fancy marketing necessary.
Streptococcus Thermophiles
This strain is available in fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and even pickled beetroot. This strain of bacteria has shown its potency in direct application to the skin, combined with ceramides to promote the skin's mechanical barrier. It positively modulates bacteria that cause acne, and so this strain (whether ingested orally or applied topically) can strengthen the skin's barrier from acne, rash, and cystic acne (Lee et al, 2019).
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
This strain is commonly known for its beneficial contributions in lactose intolerance and regulation of immune capacity (Gao et al, 2022). It has a good tolerance to bile salts, which means it's also include on the list of "bacteria that survives the trip to the gut" (without needing clever marketing to do so) (Gao et al, 2022).
Aside from its gut and immune benefits, Lactobacillus Acidophilus exudes a regulatory effect. on the skin through antimicrobial peptides (Lim et al, 2020). This effect is what helps the skin combat and regenerate from UVB-ray damage, which is what causes wrinkles and dryness and thinning associated with skin's ageing.
Skin protection is important, don't get me wrong. I know you'll enjoy protecting your gorgeous complexion even more when you take care of it. Incorporating probiotic supplements for skin health can be immensely beneficial, both for casual anti-ageing measures as well as more vigorous care for conditions such as acne and eczema.
If you know you want to use probiotic strains to protect your skin, but are unsure how to pick a probiotic that will meet all your needs, you can download my free guide on picking your probiotic, without the Influencer B.S. below.