The Power of Probiotics: Balancing Your Skin’s Microbiome

Probiotics are one of the revolutionizing ingredients that gained significant attention in the world of skincare in recent years. The benefits of these ‘good bacteria’ extend beyond gut health and have made their way to skincare. When it comes to skincare, probiotics are the microorganisms that maintain the natural skin barrier. These bacterial components nurture the microbiome on the skin’s surface for this purpose.

Today, probiotics are a common ingredient in many skincare products known for their excellent effects. In today’s blog, we are going to explore what probiotics are and how efficiently they can be incorporated into your skincare regimen.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are the live bacteria that support the supply of healthy bacteria into the body. These fight the bad microbiome in the body and boost immunity against infections and diseases. Additionally, they synthesize peptide, collagen, and ceramide production, thereby maintaining elasticity and suppleness of the skin by reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Probiotics contain the following microbes that help the skin:

• Lactococcus: Restores skin barrier function
• Bifida Ferment Lysate: Protection against UV-induced skin damage
• Streptococcus Thermophilus: Prevents dryness of the skin
• Saccharomyces lysate: Boosts oxygen uptake and cell turnover
• Lactobacillus: Moisturizes and enhances the skin
• Pseudoalteromonas: Hydrates and reduces the ageing signs on the skin
• Insulin: Balances microflora of the skin

Understanding the Skin’s Microbiome

The skin is a shelter for various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, collectively known as the skin microbiome. These microbiomes shield our body against any pathogens that enter the body and keep the skin hydrated and healthy. The microbiome imbalance, i.e. decrease in beneficial bacteria and increase in pathogenic bacteria, caused by environmental factors leads to various skin issues such as acne, eczema, rosacea, premature ageing, parched skin, etc.

Probiotic Skincare Benefits

Probiotic skincare products are formulated with beneficial bacteria that restore and regulate the balance of the skin’s microbiome. Here are some key benefits of probiotics, your skin’s perfect ally:

• Strengthens your skin: Probiotics for the skin are essential to strengthen the outer layer of your skin and shield it against environmental stressors. Once the microbiomes are balanced, your skin will be naturally guarded from pollution, sun damage, etc., improving the texture and softness of the skin.
• Improves hydration: Good bacteria in the probiotic promote hydration by retaining the moisture in the skin. They balance the health of the skin by reducing transepidermal water loss, the loss of water through the epidermis, that modulates skin dryness. 
• Reduces acne and skin inflammation: Probiotics produce antibacterial proteins that shield the skin from acne-producing bacteria and fungi. This barrier also prevents inflammation and redness on the skin, thereby reducing the risks of skin conditions like rosacea and eczema.
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines: The good bacteria in probiotics regulate the antioxidant and collagen activity in the skin, which keeps the skin young and healthy. They increase the elasticity of the skin and reduce signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines.
• Improved pH balance on skin: The pH of the skin can be disturbed due to several factors like ageing, UVA and UVB damage, sebum production, environmental stressors, cosmetics, etc. Probiotics provide the skin with a healthy dose of good bacteria and help to keep it moisturised and healthy while also strengthening it against the damage caused by free radicals.
• Brightens the skin: The lactic acid in the probiotics is a naturally occurring AHA(Alpha hydroxy acids) that possesses skin-brightening properties. Unlike other chemical exfoliants, natural AHAs are less irritating and effective in removing dead skin cells, dirt, and excess oil that clogs the pores of the skin. It also promotes natural cell turnover and boosts skin’s health.

Prebiotics and Probiotics: A Dynamic Duo

Prebiotics are just as important as probiotics when it comes to skincare. Prebiotics, like probiotics, nourishes the beneficial bacteria on the skin and helps with the healing of the skin. These are indigestible substances (complex carbohydrates) that encourage the growth of beneficial microorganisms.

The health of the skin depends on the amount of good bacteria that defend against pathogens, improve hydration, and repair the skin too. Hence, Prebiotics must be added to your skincare routine along with probiotics if healthy, balanced skin is what you are looking for.

Dullness, irritation, inflammation, collagen production, breakouts, dryness etc are a few skin issues that can easily be tackled when probiotics and prebiotics work together.

Probiotic Skincare Ingredients

In addition to formulated probiotic products, incorporating natural ingredients that support the skin microbiome further enhances your skincare routine. Some of these ingredients include:

• Red Algae Extract: Rich in protein, vitamins, and antioxidants that clarify the skin and boost the natural skin barrier
  Product Recommendations: Fixderma Peelonate AHA is an exfoliating, non-irritating face cleanser that is derived from natural alpha hydroxy acids from fruit sources and promotes cell turnover, reduces rough & dry skin, and improves skin tone.
• Shea Butter: Works as an emollient and soothes the skin by reducing inflammation and dryness.
  Check out the list of products offered by Fixderma including Shea Butter.
• Hyaluronic acid: Replenishes the skin by increasing the good microbiomes
  Fixderma offers a wide range of dermatologically-approved formulations consisting of Hyaluronic Acid. Do check them out for providing intense hydration to the skin.
• Vitamin C: extracted from citrus fruit extracts, Vitamin C fights the pathogenic bacteria on the skin.
  With extensive clinical research, our experts have developed formulations including Vitamin C in the right concentration. Check out the products today and upgrade your skincare regimen.
• AHA: Exfoliates and brightens the skin with the help of lactic acid contained in the ingredient.
  Product Recommendations: Fixderma Peelonate AHA & BHA is an inventive exfoliating skin cleanser combining Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids. This non-irritating formulation deeply cleanses the skin pores of oil and surface build-up. The gentle exfoliator promotes cell turnover, reduces roughness, and improves overall skin tone.
  • Yogurt: Restores the beneficial bacteria balance on the skin and relieves inflammation.
  • Bananas: Supports hydration and prebiotic action in the body.
  • Almonds: Contains fatty acids that combat fungal infection.
  • Cucumber: Reduces signs of stress, ageing, and inflammation.
  • Raw honey: Natural probiotics that help retain moisture on the skin.

Probiotics for a Healthy Skin Microbiome

The power of probiotics in skincare lies in their ability to restore and maintain the gentle balance of the skin’s microbiome. These ingredients are well compatible with all skin types and can be incorporated into skincare easily as they are available in different formulations as cleansers, serums, creams, shower gels, moisturisers, etc. These healthy microbiomes not only boost the health of the skin but also its texture and look. 

Probiotics work well with hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides, vitamin C, and retinol. Great results can be achieved effortlessly by combining these components with both probiotics and probiotics, keeping the skincare concern you wish to address in mind. Compared to other skincare components that include chemicals, switching to a microbiome-friendly, chem-free skincare routine improves your skin more effectively. Probiotics are the healers in the world of skincare that enhance your skin’s health by balancing microbiomes, skincare barrier, hydration, and pH levels of the skin.