Postbiotics: nourish the skin from within
The gut-skin axis connects what happens in the gut with how the skin looks and behaves. Here we explore four ways postbiotics have been linked to skin health.
Postbiota Science team · 7 min read
Supports a healthy skin microbiome. Postbiotics help maintain a balanced skin microbiome, which may play a role in supporting overall skin health.
Promotes hydration. Postbiotics can help improve skin moisturisation, elasticity, and the appearance of fine lines and pores.
Helps manage skin irritation. Postbiotics may help soothe irritation and support the skin’s natural healing processes.
Provides antioxidant support. Postbiotics may help protect the skin from environmental stressors, such as free radicals and UV exposure, which contribute to the appearance of ageing.
Introduction
Our skin is not only affected by what we put on it, but also by what is happening inside our bodies, particularly in our gut. This connection between gut health and skin appearance is known as the gut-skin axis¹. Emerging research has shown that a healthy gut microbiome can have a positive impact on our skin. Beneficial bacteria in the microbiome, including those used as probiotics, produce so-called postbiotics: bioactive compounds known for their health effects. Postbiotics have been linked to a range of benefits for the skin, making them relevant to skincare that works from the inside out. In this article, we explore four of them.
1. Balancing the skin microbiome
The skin is the largest organ of our body, and it has its own microbiome. Skin microbiota contains over 800 diverse types of microbes², and a single square centimetre of human skin can contain up to one billion microorganisms³. Postbiotics can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful ones, maintaining a balanced skin microbiome⁴˒⁵. This balance is crucial for preventing skin infections and maintaining overall skin health. Imbalance of the skin microbiome, known as dysbiosis, has been associated with several skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis⁶. By supporting a balanced microbiome, postbiotics contribute to resilient and healthy skin.
2. Boosting skin hydration
Healthy skin hydration is essential for a smooth appearance and for protection against irritation. Studies have shown that postbiotics from S. thermophilus, L. casei and L. rhamnosus can help increase skin moisturisation⁷˒⁸ and promote better elasticity⁷. These postbiotics have also been linked to a reduced appearance of wrinkles and smaller pore size⁷. Postbiotics from B. longum are known to strengthen the skin barrier, while also decreasing skin sensitivity and roughness⁹. Higher concentrations of propionate, another postbiotic, have been found in people with well-hydrated skin, suggesting that maintaining propionate levels could support moisturised, healthy skin.
3. Calming the skin: inflammation and recovery
Skin conditions like eczema, acne and psoriasis often come with inflammation, which can cause redness, irritation and discomfort. Postbiotics can help modulate inflammation in the body¹⁰–¹⁵. For example, postbiotics from L. rhamnosus have been shown to decrease redness of the skin⁸. Postbiotics like peptidoglycans and exopolysaccharides play a role in supporting wound healing⁴, helping the skin recover. In the case of acne, pyruvic acid, a specific postbiotic, has been shown to reduce skin greasiness when applied as a peel¹⁶.
4. Antioxidant protection: shielding skin from damage
Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental toxins, UV rays and free radicals that can break down collagen, a key protein that keeps skin firm and elastic. Reduced collagen leads to signs of ageing such as wrinkles and rough skin texture. Some postbiotics provide antioxidant protection, helping to shield the skin from this damage¹⁷. Postbiotics from lactic acid bacteria fermentation in kimchi have been shown to block enzymes that break down collagen¹⁸. Glycolic acid, another postbiotic, boosts collagen production and helps repair sun-damaged skin¹⁹. It also improves skin texture and reduces signs of hyperpigmentation¹⁹ and ageing, such as wrinkles and roughness²⁰, and has been reported to help with acne²¹. Finally, butyric acid applied to the skin reduced inflammation caused by UV radiation²².
Summary
Postbiotics offer several potential benefits for skin health: supporting the skin barrier, modulating inflammation and providing antioxidant protection. They can help promote a balanced skin microbiome, maintain hydration, soothe irritation and protect the skin from environmental stressors, contributing to healthier, more resilient skin from within.
This article summarises scientific literature for professional readers. It is not a health claim for any product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
01 The gut-skin axis links gut health to skin appearance.
02 Postbiotics are studied for microbiome balance, hydration, calming and antioxidant effects.
03 Much of the skin evidence comes from topical application.
Several of the studies cited tested postbiotics applied to the skin (lotions, peels), not taken orally. Effects from topical use cannot be assumed for oral intake.
References
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2 Timm, C.M., Loomis, K., Stone, W., et al. (2020). Isolation and characterization of diverse microbial representatives from the human skin microbiome. Microbiome 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/S40168-020-00831-Y
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