Beauty Tips

Want Clear Skin? Here's Why You Should Try Probiotic Supplements

Before you hop on the gut bacteria bandwagon, read this probiotic primer

by Jenn Sinrich | COMMENT

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What Gets Bacteria Out of Whack in the First Place? Essentially, everything we're exposed to or put into our bodies can impact our bacteria. "Some of the most common offenders in destroying this good bacteria are antibiotics, steroids, processed foods, birth control pills, coffee, carbonated beverages, ascorbic acid, additives and preservatives, radiation, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and stress," explains Sherry Ross, M.D., OB/GYN and women's health expert at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

To put it simply, we will always have an ebb and flow of good and bad bacteria in our systems, which is why it's so important to load up on healthy bacteria to help kill off the unhealthy bacteria. As the gut and skin are intimately related, Garden points out that this microbiome can affect the bacteria that lives on our skin as well.

In an effort to gain more "good gut bacteria," many doctors recommend probiotic supplements. "These supplements work by providing your gut with large amounts of bacteria that are typically found in high numbers in the guts of healthy people," explains Garden. Essentially, by consuming live bacteria, you are providing your intestines with the manpower to crowd out the unhealthy bacteria.

SEE NEXT PAGE: What Research Says About Probiotics and Skin Health

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