The Gut-Skin Axis: How the Gut Microbiome Affects the Beauty of Your Skin

Skin as a Living Wall – and Why it Constantly Renews Itself

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and also its most sophisticated protective barrier. It consists of approximately 15 layers of microscopic "bricks" – corneocytes – bound together by "mortar" made of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

But unlike a real wall, this barrier is constantly renewing itself. Deep in the basal layer, new epidermal cells are continuously formed, which gradually mature: basal → spinous → granular cells → and finally become corneocytes on the surface. This is a complex process controlled by a number of genes, regulated by epigenetic reactions – and this is where the gut comes into play.

The balance of the gut microbiome and the immune processes that gut bacteria help to control directly affect the course of skin barrier renewal. A healthy gut = healthy skin. And vice versa.

Good and Bad Bacteria: Who Decides Your Skin's Fate?

Up to 100 trillion microorganisms live in the gut – and not all of them are on your side.

🟢 Good Bacteria – Natural Skin Protectors

Strains like Bacteroides fragilis, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, or bacteria from the genera Clostridium IV and XI work in your favor in several ways:

They support regulatory T-lymphocytes – immune system cells with anti-inflammatory effects. They produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) – butyrate, propionate, and acetate – which suppress the formation of inflammatory cytokines and protect both the gut and skin barrier. For example, Lactobacillus LGG secretes protein p40, which directly prevents cytokine-mediated cell death.

And there's also a direct link: SCFAs produced in the gut support the growth of friendly bacteria on the skin's surface – those that protect it from pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus.

🔴 Bad Bacteria – Silent Saboteurs of Beauty

Segmented filamentous bacteria and their allies cause the opposite: they promote the accumulation of pro-inflammatory Th-17 lymphocytes, increase the production of inflammatory cytokines, and contribute to skin problems from acne to contact dermatitis to psoriasis.

Furthermore, if the acidity in the small intestine decreases, bacteria from the large intestine begin to penetrate where they don't belong – and the absorption of micronutrients like zinc, selenium, folic acid, or omega-3 worsens. The result? Visible on the skin.

A Surprising Third of This Story: Stress

Chronic psychological stress is extremely relevant for the gut-skin axis – and few realize it.

Under stress, gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. While in the brain these substances are essential for signal transmission, in the gut they do the exact opposite: they disrupt the integrity of the gut barrier and increase systemic inflammation – of which your skin is a victim, among other things.

Chronic stress → gut microbiome dysbiosis → inflammation → visible skin manifestations. This triad is now well-documented scientifically.

Four Skin Problems Linked to the Gut

1. Acne

Acne affects approximately 85% of adolescents and persists into adulthood. Its development is due to excessive sebum production, narrowing of the sebaceous ducts, and inflammation. But the gut plays its part: some gut bacteria influence the mTORC1 signaling pathway, which regulates lipid production and inflammation. A diet rich in carbohydrates with a high glycemic index affects IGF-1 signaling – and this directly promotes acne.

2. Atopic Dermatitis

The most common chronic inflammatory skin disease affects 15–30% of children and 2–10% of adults. We now know that it is not just an allergic problem – it is a dysfunction of the skin barrier and immune response simultaneously. Mutations in the FLG gene (filaggrin) disrupt the barrier structure, allergens penetrate, and trigger an inflammatory cascade.

In patients with atopic dermatitis, a deficiency of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii – one of the key anti-inflammatory bacteria whose SCFAs help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier – has been repeatedly confirmed in the gut.

3. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is now primarily understood as an inflammatory and immune disease. The accumulation of pro-inflammatory Th-17 lymphocytes leads to excessive production of cytokines (IL-17, IL-20, IL-22), which cause rapid and uncontrolled keratinocyte division.

Scientific studies in psoriasis patients repeatedly show: low representation of good bacteria (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, F. prausnitzii) and increased incidence of pathogens (campylobacter, E. coli, salmonella). Gut SCFAs directly influence whether naive T-cells develop into anti-inflammatory regulatory cells or pro-inflammatory Th-17 lymphocytes.

4. Skin Aging

Aging skin is characterized by loss of barrier function, decreased hydration, collagen degradation, and accumulation of pro-inflammatory cells. UV radiation accelerates this process through oxidative stress and microscopic inflammation.

A fascinating discovery of modern science: the state of body microbiomes can quite accurately predict how quickly aging will progress – both for the skin and the entire body. Children have a high proportion of cyanobacteria on their skin capable of converting UV radiation into heat without producing free radicals. With age, their proportion significantly decreases – and the negative impact of UV radiation increases.

What Can Help: Scientifically Proven Substances for the Gut-Skin Axis

In addition to diet, exercise, and sufficient sleep, there are dietary supplements whose benefits for the microbiome and skin are scientifically documented.

Probiotics – especially lactobacilli (L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei) and bifidobacteria – contribute to improving skin thickness, blood circulation, hydration, and barrier function. A twelve-week clinical study with L. plantarum demonstrated increased skin elasticity and hydration in volunteers.

Synbiotics (a combination of probiotics + prebiotics) are demonstrably more effective than probiotics alone. Fermented enzymes supplement the microbiome with nutrients, prebiotics, and support digestion.

Furthermore, science supports: EGCG (green tea) for epigenetic and antioxidant effects, curcumin as one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory agents, vitamin C for collagen production and mitochondrial protection, resveratrol for slowing aging and inhibiting collagen fiber degradation, omega-3 for their strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Solution from Esthe Pro Labo: Flora Balance + Herbzyme113 Plain

byFEMME offers two products for the gut-skin axis that translate the scientific approach mentioned above into daily practice.

🦠 Flora Balance – 500 billion lactobacilli in one sachet

Flora Balance is a highly effective Japanese probiotic dietary supplement whose parameters are exceptional in its category.

500 billion plant-derived lactobacilli in one sachet – orders of magnitude more than most common probiotics on the market. The bacteria are obtained by traditional Japanese fermentation from fermented Sunki-zuke cucumber and processed with patented technology, ensuring bacterial size under 1 µm – and thus high colonization ability in the gut environment.

The composition of Flora Balance is supplemented by a ferment from 152 types of fruits, vegetables, and seaweeds, 20 amino acids, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C, and koji extract, which supports enzymatic digestion and nutrient absorption.

Flora Balance is 100% plant-based – dairy-free, suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

What Flora Balance provides: full balance of intestinal microflora, strengthening immunity, improving digestion and metabolism, supporting detoxification, and overall digestive comfort – even after a heavier meal.

How to use: 1-3 sachets daily after meals. Let the contents of the sachet dissolve slowly in your mouth. Do not add to hot drinks.

Herbzyme113 Plain – fermented power of 113 Japanese ingredients

Herbzyme113 Plain is a fermented enzymatic drink made from 113 carefully selected Japanese vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, seaweeds, grains, and herbs. It is twice fermented using traditional Japanese methods in cypress barrels and is a 98% concentrated fermented plant solution.

It contains no added oligosaccharides or synthetic additives. The high enzyme content supports natural digestion, detoxification, and nutrient absorption – while also serving as excellent nutrition for the existing gut microbiome.

How to use: 20 ml daily using the included measuring cup. Ideally in the morning on an empty stomach, after breakfast, before a main meal, or as a light dinner replacement. Store in the refrigerator after opening.

Why the Synergy of Both Products is Stronger Than Each Alone

Flora Balance and Herbzyme113 Plain together create a synbiotic effect – a combination of probiotics and prebiotic nutrition, which is scientifically proven to be more effective than using each one separately.

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Practical Recommendations: What to Do and What to Avoid

What helps both the gut and skin: A varied diet aiming for 30+ different plant foods per week, at least 30g of fiber daily, fermented foods (kimchi, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut), regular exercise, 7-9 hours of sleep, stress management (meditation, breathing, yoga), and adequate hydration.

What harms: Highly processed foods poor in nutrients, excessive sugar feeding pathogenic bacteria, excessive antibiotic use without probiotic support afterwards, excessive alcohol intake disrupting the gut barrier, and smoking negatively affecting both the microbiome and skin.

True Beauty Starts Within

The skin is not an isolated organ. It is a mirror of what is happening deeper – in the digestive tract, in the immune system, in the balance of billions of microorganisms living inside you.

The science of the gut-skin axis is clear today: the microbiome affects acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, aging, and overall skin radiance. And caring for it is just as important as caring for the skin's surface – if not more so.

Flora Balance and Herbzyme113 Plain from Esthe Pro Labo offer a scientifically proven approach, validated by traditional Japanese methods, that targets where true beauty begins.

Because what you see on your skin reflects what's happening inside. And inside, you have the power to change almost everything.

Explore Further

• Flora Balance – Esthe Pro Labo →
• Herbzyme113 Plain →
• Support for the Gut Microbiome – Full Category →