What you must remember :
- Acne is a complex disease with very diverse causes.
- There is, in the same way as the intestinal microbiota, a cutaneous microbiota in the skin which acts as a barrier against pathogens.
- In people suffering from acne, dysbiosis of this microbiota as well as that of the intestine is commonly observed.
- The intestine-skin axis indicates that there are numerous correlations between these two flora and that one can impact the other.
- Regulating or relieving certain signs of acne can therefore be achieved by balancing the intestinal flora.
What is acne?
Acne vulgaris is the most common type of acne found in the population. It is a follicular disease which is characterized by distension of the follicles and a keratinous plug. This plug may be due to hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. These are cells constituting 90% of the surface layer of the skin (epidermis) and the appendages (nails, hair, fur, feathers, scales).
This type of acne mainly occurs on the face and upper chest. It is characterized in particular by the presence of redspots , blackheads and pustules on the skin . There are also other types such as reactive, nodular or cystic, hormonal, inflammatory acne and many others.
Acne usually occurs in adolescence when puberty arrives but can also occur in adulthood.
It is important to remember that it is essential to consult a dermatologist if you suffer from acne in order to determine the cause and best adapt the treatment.
More and more studies are looking into the origin of these different acnes and a real intestine-skin axis has been identified. Digestive acne indicating that a digestive disorder is the cause of skin problems is therefore one of the subjects to study to understand the link between diet and skin.
The causes and origins of acne
#1 – Puberty
Just as in the case of digestive acne, hormonal variations produced during puberty can lead to an increase in the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. The hormones most involved in this phenomenon are the so-called male androgenic hormones. This is why boys are more likely to suffer from this type of skin problem.
#2 – Heredity
Links have been established in the scientific literature between the occurrence of acne and acne present in other relatives of the same family. Indeed, having this skin disease in the family increases the risk of acne. However, this disease is not considered hereditary, it can simply, through genetic transmission, present a greater risk of development if close relatives are already faced with it. This can be the cause of hormonal, reactive, inflammatory acne, with or without a digestive origin.
#3 – An underlying pathology
Certain pathologies such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) characterized by significant hormonal variations, more precisely the overproduction of androgenic hormones, can lead to the occurrence of acne. In fact, it is one of the symptoms of this disease but can also occur in other people with hormonal, inflammatory or immune pathologies. Indeed, this can sometimes result from an unbalanced microbiota and be the cause of digestive acne.
#4 – A treatment
Continuous taking of certain treatments can cause hormonal and metabolic variations while altering the intestinal and skin microbiota which can, ultimately, lead to the occurrence of acne. Among the medications that can cause this type of skin reaction, we find:
- Sex hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, certain birth control pills, etc.
- Certain antidepressants
- Cortisone derivatives
- Lithium
- Immunosuppressants
- Certain antibiotics
- Antiepileptics
The skin microbiota: a fascinating ecosystem serving the well-being of the skin
The skin microbiota is one of our body's first barriers due to its protective action against potential pathogenic organisms. It is made up of a wide diversity of protective micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea and mites.
At birth, this microbiota is sterile and is gradually built up thanks to maternal and external bacteria, just like the intestinal microbiota. Certain bacteria have very specific actions against defined pathogens. Indeed, there is, for example, Staphylococcus epidermidis, a real bulwark of bactericidal action against Staphylococcus aureus.
Once again, just like the intestinal microbiota, certain microorganisms are capable of modulating the production of immune molecules, thus promoting good healing and regeneration of the skin.
Intestinal-skin axis: link between intestinal and skin microbiota
How does the gut microbiota influence skin health?
The gut-skin axis is increasingly studied because numerous studies hypothesize the involvement of the intestinal microbiota in maintaining the health of the skin and therefore the skin microbiota. Indeed, these studies support that these two flora communicate through modulation of the immune system and the inflammatory response.
Additionally, gut microbiota dysbiosis is commonly observed in acne patients as well as increased intestinal permeability. This results in an alteration of the intestinal wall , creating intestinal porosity , allowing toxic and pathogenic compounds to pass through. This can cause inflammatory responses and poor communication with the skin microbiota. Indeed, good bacteria allow the production of compounds beneficial to the body called short-chain fatty acids, which maintains homeostasis, that is to say the good balance, of the skin flora.
Likewise, this alteration of the intestinal microbiota can be the cause of metabolic disturbances that can promote the occurrence of acne or aggravate it.
The role of diet on the occurrence of acne
We know more and more that an imbalance in diet can be involved in a disruption of the intestinal microbiota . This can ultimately cause, as mentioned previously, dysbiosis as well as intestinal hyperpermeability . Indeed, excessive consumption of industrial, ultra-processed products, rich in compounds toxic to the body (additives, processed sugar) and a depletion of raw products, rich in nutrients and fiber can lead to a weakening of the intestinal microbiota and prevent the proper development of beneficial bacteria. In addition, if the diet is depleted in fiber with a prebiotic effect, these bacteria will not be able to ensure their proper development and functioning. This is why, opting for a diet rich in fermented products providing good micro-organisms, fiber and overall a balanced and diversified diet is essential to ensure good digestive functions by supporting the digestive system , strengthening your immune system , regulating hormonal functions and thus promote a strengthened and effective skin microbiota for optimal skin health.
How to take care of your digestive acne using DIJO supplements
Studies attest to the usefulness of providing probiotics to the body in order to better regulate the intestinal microbiota, reduce intestinal permeability and limit the occurrence of inflammation and immune reactions in people with acne. Additionally, taking care of these beneficial bacteria is essential by providing them with enough fiber called prebiotics . In fact, prebiotics provide food for these good bacteria and allow them to develop properly. This is why, at DIJO, we have developed perfect supplements to take care of the beauty of the skin and in particular the skin radiance pack , ideal for deeply balancing the microbiota by providing probiotics thanks to the essential probiotics , promote their good growth by providing prebiotics thanks to the Skin Focus which will deeply hydrate the skin and by supporting the detoxification functions of the skin thanks to the Detox Potion based on plants such as pilosella ,wild pansy and dandelion . This pack is ideal for regulating the digestive and immune systems and restoring beautiful radiance to the skin while promoting detoxification.
Sources :
[1] Causes of acne, Vidal, consulted from https://www.vidal.fr/entreprises/peau-cheveux-ongles/acne/causes
[2] Sánchez-Pellicer P, Navarro-Moratalla L, Núñez-Delegido E, Ruzafa-Costas B, Agüera-Santos J, Navarro-López V. Acne, Microbiome, and Probiotics: The Gut-Skin Axis. Microorganisms. 2022 Jun 27;10(7):1303. doi:10.3390/microorganisms10071303. PMID: 35889022; PMCID: PMC9318165.
[3] Jung GW, Tse JE, Guiha I, Rao J. Prospective, randomized, open-label trial comparing the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of an acne treatment regimen with and without a probiotic supplement and minocycline in subjects with mild to moderate acne. J Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar-Apr;17(2):114-22. doi:10.2310/7750.2012.12026. PMID: 23582165.
[4] Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA. The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Front Microbiol. 2018 Jul 10;9:1459. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459. PMID: 30042740; PMCID: PMC6048199.
