Why your skin needs probiotic lotion!

You’ve probably heard about the amazing ecosystem of friendly bacteria living in your gut and how it supports your overall health — but did you know your skin is also home to a thriving community of beneficial microbes?

Just like the gut, your skin acts as a dynamic, semi-permeable barrier. This means that not only does it protect you from external threats, but it also absorbs some of what you put on it. In other words, what you eat and what you apply topically both influence your body’s internal balance.

That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients in your food basket as well as the products in your skincare routine. Probiotics — both from fermented foods like kefir and kimchi, and from topical probiotic lotions — can play a crucial role in supporting the health of your skin and your gut.

The skin: more than just a surface!

The skin is a multilayered organ that performs many functions. Let’s have a closer look at those functions and why you should look after it with topical probiotics –

A physical barrier – protecting internal organs and tissues from the external environment.
Immune regulation – immune cells are constantly interacting with the outer world, signalling when there are threats present. ¹
Temperature control – regulating heat through sweat and circulation
Absorption and detoxification – Allowing certain substances to pass through while releasing sweat and toxins.
Sun protection and vitamin D production.

What is the skin microbiome and what does it do?

The outer layers of the skin are home to the skin microbiome – an ecosystem made up of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that defend and maintain the health of your skin. When the skin microbiome is healthy and balanced, this ecosystem of beneficial microbes is responsible for several functions, including pH regulation, immune system modulation, and fighting off harmful bacteria and diseases.

Just as you can get an imbalance of bacteria in the gut (dysbiosis), this can also occur in the skin. Low diversity of beneficial bacteria and/or growth of pathogenic (harmful) bacteria can lead to conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and acne.

What causes skin microbiome dysbiosis?

Several factors can disrupt the balance of beneficial microbes on your skin:

Medication (both oral and topical) – steroids, retinoids, and antibiotics
Harsh soaps and antibacterial cleansers
Personal care products containing alcohol and preservatives

Just like your gut microbiome, your skin’s microbial community is as unique as your fingerprint — shaped by your genetics, environment, age, and overall health.

Your skin is the first line of defence…

One particularly important function of the skin is protection: beneficial bacteria in the skin work to keep pathogens from colonising and causing infections or disease. They do this by producing antimicrobial peptides that fight off harmful microbes.²

The skin microbiome (skin biome for short) is made up of one trillion bacteria including multiple species of bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, Streptococcus mitis, and Staphylococcus aureus (non-pathogenic strains). Skin problems can arise when there is an imbalance in the skin biome. For example, acne has been associated with Cutibacterium acnes; psoriasis – Staphylococcus and Streptococcus; eczema – Staphylococcus aureus, rosacea – Demodex folliculorum. These conditions are also associated with reduced diversity and lower levels of beneficial bacteria within the gut microbiome. ³

Diversity is key!

Emerging research is showing that it is the loss of diversity in the skin microbiome that gives rise to skin conditions, not just the overgrowth of certain bacteria. When the skin microbiome is depleted of beneficial bacteria, it struggles to combat infections and inflammation, causing chronic skin conditions to worsen. The lack of beneficial bacteria causes disturbances in the skin barrier, inflammation, and loss of moisture, leading to dry, cracked and inflamed skin.⁴

The good news? You can help restore balance with topical probiotics.

How topical probiotics support your skin

Probiotic bacteria produce antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory substances which support the immune responses in the skin and reduce pathogens. ⁵ Topical probiotics and their metabolites (substances produced by bacteria) are thought to help improve the skin’s natural barrier by acting directly at the site of application.

Particular strains of Lactobacilli, Streptococci, and Bifidobacteria have been shown to improve certain skin conditions including psoriasis, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and acne, as well as assist in wound healing. ⁶

These beneficial microbes work by calming inflammation, enhancing the immune response, and accelerating the skin’s natural repair process.

Where can you find probiotic lotion?

We recommend applying Chuckling Goat probiotic-rich lotions to nourish and restore your skin microbiome, while supporting your gut health with a synbiotic protocol — the combination of probiotics and prebiotics.

Your skin and gut are deeply connected. By supporting both ecosystems with the right probiotics — inside and out — you can create the conditions for lasting, radiant skin health ✨

For more information on skin health, check out these articles.