What if the secret to healthy skin lay in our intestinal bacteria? This is what a team of researchers was interested in understanding, by studying the link between an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota and certain common dermatological diseases. Their goal: to analyze the use of probiotics as a treatment for the most common skin diseases.
The intestinal microbiota is recognized as the largest organ endocrineendocrine and plays a key role in maintaining human homeostasis. More and more scientific reports suggest that its dysbiosis plays an important role in the induction and progression of diseases, particularly dermatological ones. In a study published in theInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences, a team of Polish researchers studied the link between the intestine-skin axis and the pathogenesis of certain common dermatoses. These diseases, caused by environmental genetic factors, are increasingly common.
The intestinal microbiota: as essential as it is fragile
The “microbiota” is a term that refers to all commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms found in an established environment. In humans, it is mainly concentrated in the intestines, representing an average weight of 1.5 kgkg adulthood. Once established, the set of microorganisms making up the intestinal microbiota is relatively constant throughout life. However, certain factors can have a negative impact on its profile, leading to an imbalance. Called dysbiosis, this is a situation in which there is a loss of beneficial organisms in the microbiota profile, an exaggerated increase in potentially harmful organisms, or a reduction in overall microflora diversity. And this can happen under the influence of factors as varied as genetics, diet, use ofantibioticsantibioticsTHE stressstress…
What is the connection between the intestines and the skin?
All compounds formed in the intestine can have a direct effect on receptors skinskin or interact with commensal bacteria residing in the skin. And vice versa: certain factors acting on the skin contribute to the intestinal microbiota, this is the case, for example, of skin exposure to radiation. ultravioletultraviolet B leading to the production of vitamin D, beneficial for the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Thus, the intestine-skin axis functions according to a bidirectional mechanism, and a recent study has highlighted a causal link between the intestinal microbiota and dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitisatopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and alopecia areata. A modulationmodulation of the intestinal microflora, thanks in particular to a contribution of prebioticsprebiotics and probiotics, would lead to resolutionresolution of these skin lesions for many patients, often incurable with therapiestherapies current.
Should (almost) everyone take probiotics?
Worldwide, between 30 and 70% of the population suffers from dermatoses, which are the most frequent reason for consultation in general medicine. There prevalenceprevalence The increasing incidence of dermatological diseases poses a challenge both for public health and for the patients themselves, which is why it is important to introduce effective therapies to treat the symptomssymptoms skin conditions. However, further research is needed to clarify the benefits of microbiota remodeling, and to determine effective doses and combinations so that it is routinely recommended for affected patients.
