The knowledge surrounding gut health and how it affects other areas of our lives is continually growing. From our energy levels and mood to our sleep and wake schedule, our gut health affects it all, so it is no surprise it plays a major role in our skin complexion as well. An unhealthy gut can contribute to our skin:

• Appearing red. 
• Being dry and flakey. 
• Experiencing acne breakouts. 
• Being overly oily..

…or just plain unpredictable. So why is this?! 

The gut, skin axis

The intestines and the skin are the two organs that experience the most contact with the outside world, so it is no wonder that they are in constant communication. Infact, the skin is one of the best indicators for dietary insensitivities or nutrient imbalances. The skin is the body’s main way of detoxification and if our gut is struggling to manage and regulate the bacteria in it, our skin is one of the first places it will show. 

How to improve your gut health

Consult your doctor about a probiotic
Would you believe me if I told you that the human body is made up of more bacteria than human cells? Believe it or not,  this is the case! Our cells are outnumbered by bacteria 10 to 1, which is why what we feed these

bacterias are important. Probiotics are essentially a way to make sure the good bacteria in our body is outweighing the bad. Just like we would treat your skin with a probiotic mask during a facial, we recommend  you consider treating you gut microbiome to a probiotic as well. 

Identify food sensitivities

One huge culprit for red and inflamed skin are food sensitivities. A major indicator that you could be eating something that your immune system is trying to fight is if you are chronically experiencing acne breakouts, rashes, and other forms of irritated skin. Other helpful clues of a food allergy or insensitivity can include: 

• Frequent, unexplained bloating. 
• Fatigue. 
• Headaches. 

If you’re unsure what it is that triggers the reaction, elimination diets, such as Whole30 can help you discover what foods are the issue. 

Clean up your diet

Even if you don’t necessarily have a food intolerance, certain foods still wreak havoc on your gut health. Foods that are overly processed, including artificial sweeteners and bleached flour, have been shown to disrupt the gut microbiome. Eliminating these foods can truly benefit your skin. 
Interested in learning more ways that you can improve your skin complexion? Head over to www.sleekskin.com and schedule an appointment today!