If you’re trying to reduce wrinkles naturally, emerging research into the gut-skin axis suggests one of the most interesting places to look may be somewhere you wouldn’t expect: your gut microbiome.
Most anti-ageing strategies focus on the skin itself.
Protect it from excessive sun exposure.
Keep it moisturised.
Support collagen.
Use appropriate skincare.
But skin is part of a much larger biological system.
And scientists are increasingly interested in communication between the gut and skin.
Your gut is an ecosystem
Trillions of microorganisms live inside your digestive tract.
Collectively, they’re known as the gut microbiome.
What you eat influences which microorganisms thrive and what compounds they produce.
Prebiotic fibres are particularly interesting because they reach the large intestine and provide food for certain gut bacteria.
During fermentation, bacteria can produce metabolites including short-chain fatty acids, or SCFAs.
These compounds are being investigated for their potential influence on processes extending well beyond digestion.
Enter the gut-skin axis
Researchers use the term gut-skin axis to describe the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and skin.
Scientists are investigating potential connections involving immune signalling, inflammatory pathways, microbial metabolites and barrier function.
That’s particularly relevant to ageing skin.
When we think about wrinkles, we tend to focus on collagen.
But the appearance of ageing skin is also influenced by characteristics such as:
- Hydration
- Elasticity
- Firmness
- Smoothness
- Water retention
- Barrier function
This raises a fascinating question.
Could changing the gut environment influence some of these characteristics?
Researchers have now tested the idea in humans
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 70 healthy adults investigated whether consuming a prebiotic fibre every day could influence measurable characteristics of their skin.
The intervention lasted 12 weeks.
Researchers assessed skin hydration, trans-epidermal water loss and several measures of skin elasticity and viscoelasticity.
And the results suggest the gut-skin connection deserves considerably more attention.
We’ve examined what participants took, the dosage used, the changes recorded after six and 12 weeks, and the particularly interesting findings among older participants in our full guide to reduce wrinkles naturally.
The takeaway isn’t that moisturisers and sunscreen suddenly don’t matter.
They do.
The more interesting lesson is that healthy-looking skin may need to be supported from both directions.
Look after the outside.
But don’t forget what’s happening inside.
Want to Try the Prebiotic Fibre Used in the Research?
The clinical trial used Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum (PHGG), a soluble prebiotic fibre that feeds beneficial gut bacteria.
Propel Health PHGG is 100% pure, FODMAP Friendly Certified and dissolves completely with virtually no taste or texture.
Buy Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum and support your gut from within.