Early Research Shows Link Between Probiotics and Clear Skin

This article originally appeared on Skin Inc

In recent years, probiotics have become synonymous with helping maintain good digestive health. Whether as live active cultures found in some yogurts or as daily supplements, probiotics are live, “friendly” bacteria that may benefit a person’s health. Now, emerging research is finding that the benefits of probiotics may extend beyond the digestive tract to the skin. In fact, skin prone to acne or rosacea has shown improvement with daily probiotic use, giving dermatologists reason to consider supplementing traditional acne therapy with a dose of this beneficial bacteria.

American Academy of Dermatology expert
Information provided by Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, and adjunct assistant clinical professor of dermatology at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn.
The science behind probiotics effect on the skin
 

Most bacterial cells that live inside and on the body are harmless, and studies show that, in fact, they can be extremely beneficial to the body’s normal functioning. Bowe noted that while the science of how probiotics can work to interfere with the development of acne and rosacea is very complex, Bowe noted that researchers are studying how this type of healthy bacteria applied topically to the skin or taken orally can benefit these skin conditions.
Topically applied probiotics
Currently, some cosmeceutical manufacturers have started using probiotics in their products based on this early research—including probiotic masks, creams or cleansers. There are different ways that topical probiotics can benefit the skin:

Protective Shield.

In patients with acne and rosacea, living microorganisms on the skin are recognized as foreign by the body’s immune system. The immune system […]

Broccoli Shows Promise As Viable Sunscreen

As exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays remains the leading cause of skin cancer, healthcare professionals test for safe and effective sunscreen products that can protect our skin from the sun’s intensity. Researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University have identified a compound in broccoli that could defend against melanoma development when applied to the skin.

Sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in broccoli, has been linked to cancer-fighting properties when consumed; however, few studies have dealt with its topical application, Medical News Today reported. A team headed up by Dr. Sally Dickinson, research assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s pharmacology department, has been studying the chemoprotective properties in broccoli since 2005.

“We’re searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use,” Dickinson said in a statement. “Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.”

According to the team’s findings, sulforaphane is effective in activating cancer-fighting genes including Nrf2, which inhibits cancer-causing pathways like the AP-1 protein. A “topical broccoli sprout solution” will be applied to individuals participating in an upcoming pilot study to test the compound’s effect on artificial UV light. “Sulforaphane is the kind of compound that has so many incredible theoretical applications if the dosage is measured properly,” Dickinson added. “We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns, and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin.”

According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma — often the most fatal type of skin cancer — accounts for over 9,000 of the 12,000 skin cancer deaths each year.

Dickinson and her team hope that sulforaphane application […]

5 Ways Probiotics Make You Prettier

This article originally appeared on Prevention
Make your skin care come alive
You already know that eating or taking probiotics can improve your skin from the inside out. But as a new batch of products and research would suggest, you can reap the anti-aging benefits of probiotics by applying them topically, too. “We have good and bad bacteria on our skin, just as we do in our gut,” says Ellen Marmur, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and genetics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “If the balance is off-kilter, it can result in acne or rosacea.” The right bacteria may also keep skin young. “A study found that probiotics can stimulate skin’s protective mechanism from the inside, and this may also happen with external application,” says Eric Perrier, a cosmetic scientist.

Scientists weren’t the only ones impressed. Here, five products that treat serious skin woes with, well, bacteria.
1. Smooth Dry Skin

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream ($18; drugstores)

Look for probiotics in a night cream—like this one by Burt’s Bees—to give the active cultures a full 8 hours to do their dirty work. Here, the probiotic technology helps your skin retain the moisture it has while natural butters feed your skin restorative antioxidants that combat fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Minimize redness or rosacea
Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 ($27; clinique.com)

Facial redness, chronic or not, is caused by inflammation, which makes your blood vessels visible at the skin’s surface. This liquid makeup—the first of its kind—actually treats facial redness while you wear it. Little invisible yellow- and green-tinted pearls neutralize and camouflage the visual redness while active probiotic Lactobacillus and a slew of natural extracts calm, soothe, and strengthen the skin’s barrier to lessen redness […]

Baked Turkey Quinoa Meatballs

Dr. Oz recruited some of his favorite experts to share on his show how they like to prepare his favorite grain: quinoa! Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj loves quinoa because it is a great source of fiber and can be very beneficial for those who struggle with constipation. Get your daily dose with her recipe for turkey quinoa meatballs.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground turkey

2/3 cup quinoa, cooked

3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed

1 egg

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

1/2 tsp dried basil and oregano

2 cups of tomato sauce

Salt, to taste

Lettuce leaves

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray. In a large bowl add ground turkey, quinoa, red onion, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Roll into 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls and add to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Bake for around 30 minutes until the meatballs are firm and cooked throughout.

While the meatballs are baking, heat the tomato sauce in a large saucepan. Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce and stir to coat them.

Sprinkle some parsley on top. Serve the meatballs alongside the lettuce leaves.

Your Diet Supplements Could be Ruining Your Liver

New research released by the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network reveals that diet supplements account for nearly 20 percent of drug-related liver injuries. Dr. Raj joins “New Day” to comment upon the study and explains what effects diet supplements could have on your health.

Put Down That Doughnut: FDA Takes on Trans Fat

Dr. Raj joins New Day to talk about the proposed ban on trans fat. The Food and Drug Administration has taken a first step toward potentially eliminating most trans fat from the food supply, saying it has made a preliminary determination that a major source of trans fats – partially hydrogenated oils – is no longer “generally recognized as safe.” Dr Raj also explains why products include trans fat in the first place.

Put Down That Doughnut: FDA Takes on Trans Fat

Dr. Raj joins New Day to talk about the proposed ban on trans fat. The Food and Drug Administration has taken a first step toward potentially eliminating most trans fat from the food supply, saying it has made a preliminary determination that a major source of trans fats – partially hydrogenated oils – is no longer “generally recognized as safe.” Dr Raj also explains why products include trans fat in the first place.

How is Pasta Linked to Depression?

Dr. Raj talks with Shepard Smith about a new study that links pasta and depression. According to the study, consuming carbohydrates can affect how some women feel and may increase the risk of depression by 40 percent.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

What You Should and Should Not Feed Your Toddler

What to avoid when feeding your toddler? What is the best time to introduce solids? Dr. Roshini Raj chats with Access Hollywood Live’s Billy Bush and Kit  Hoover to answer all these questions. Plus, she talks about how many times it  can take for a toddler to accept a food and she explains which foods are  essential for the proper development of a baby’s brain.