You are probably aware of the benefits of probiotics for your inner health, but did you know that topical probiotics are beneficial for your skin?
According to a recent article in Beauticate, a website dedicated to inspiring and educating people about the latest beauty trends, many of us could benefit from including topical probiotics in our skincare routine.
‘Using probiotics in our skincare is likely to have positive effects on the skin.’
Dr Luis, Medical Director for Mesoestetic via Beauticate
Why? Research has shown that probiotics in skincare improves skin quality, combats skin concerns linked to an imbalanced microbiome such as dryness, breakouts, redness and inflammation. And is also shown to help with visible signs of ageing skin.
Using topical probiotics is like feeding and nourishing your skins microbiome. By adding good bacteria to the skin and using gentle products to help maintain its balance is essential to good skin health.
Probiotics and the Skin Microbiome
Probiotics are live microorganisms, which are also referred to as ‘good’ bacteria. They occur naturally in our bodies, but can also be boosted through diet and supplements if our microbiome is out of balance.
Over 10,000 microorganisms, or bacteria, live within and on the surface of our body. Each of us has our own distinctive collection of microorganisms (good and bad bacteria), which make up what is known as our ‘microbiome’.
‘The bacteria on our skin, in our airways, and in our digestive system are the first line of defence against foreign “invaders” that can cause infection and other problems.’
Jennifer Yttri, PhD (‘Bacteria: the good, the bad and the ugly’).
When probiotics are applied topically to the skin they have the ability to calm inflammation and help cells to flourish. In more scientific terms the bacteria cells interact with receptors to control an immune response.
There is a plethora of research linking microbiome imbalances to inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema.
AMPERNA® is the first Australian brand to launch an entire range focused around this hero probiotic ingredient, so we thought we should shed some light around how they can be beneficial for your skin.
How Topical Probiotics can Benefit your Skins Health
“In order for our skin to function properly, there must be a balanced pH and microflora levels in place,” says Dr Dendy Engelman, Elizabeth Arden’s consulting dermatologist (Source: beauticate.com).
AMPERNA founder, Kiri, discovered this while searching for ways to get her perioral dermatitis and acne under control. It turns out that topical probiotics can help to promote good bacteria and fight bad bacteria on our skin, just as probiotics that we ingest can balance out our internal bacteria.
Do probiotics help perioral dermatitis? Are probiotics good for eczema?
Topical probiotics can help perioral dermatitis, acne, eczema, rosacea and a list of other skin problems.
How? They help promote and maintain a balanced skin microbiome and strengthen the skins protective barrier.
The hero ingredient of AMPERNA® skincare is our active probiotic complex, Lactococcus ferment lysate. Developed in conjunction with one of Australia’s most experienced skincare chemists, AMPERNA® is the first to use this particular strain in any Australian skincare product.
You should consider using probiotics for perioral dermatitis as they have been shown to have a great benefit for a large number of people.
Skincare products with probiotics can help to:
- Calm and soothe inflamed, irritated skin
- Improve your skin’s appearance by reducing redness and locking in moisture
- Reduce the signs of ageing
- Help to reduce the symptoms and appearance of acne and other inflammatory skin conditions
- Protect against free radical damage
New Insights Into the use of Topical Probiotics and Eczema
In a recent article on the website ‘A haven from eczema’, the author calls topical probiotics ‘the new and natural remedy for eczema’.
‘Traditional treatments for eczema to use bleach baths and antibiotics,’ explains the author, ‘which not only kill bad bacteria but also kill the beneficial microbes that we are now learning can actually help our skin. So, in the case of diseases with an imbalance in microorganisms particularly atopic dermatitis (eczema), topical probiotics present an effective alternative to strictly antibacterial products or treatments.’
Another study performed by researchers found that modifying the skin microbiome safely reduced the eczema severity and helped increase the quality of life for children as young as 3 years old. The skinmicrobiome was modified using probiotic therapy on the affected areas of the skin and shows the benefits of topical probiotics for eczema.
For those suffering from the debilitating effects of eczema, the chance to use a new and natural solution must be an incredibly welcome relief. Our own customers have sent us great feedback about how AMPERNA® has helped to soothe and calm their eczema flare-ups.
Further Reading for Those of You Who Love to Dig Deep into the Scientific Stuff
Find out what the American Academy of Dermatology had to say about the benefits of probiotic skincare for acne and rosacea in their article ‘Could probiotics be the next big thing in acne and rosacea treatments’.
Discover more about the scientific research behind the use of topically applied probiotics in the extensive report ‘probiotics for skin benefits’.
Read how bacteria on some people’s skin may play a role in the development of acne in this scientific article ‘The balance of metagenomic elements shapes the skin microbiome in acne and health’.
