A Surprising New Cure for Acne, Eczema, Rosacea, and More

Anyone who’s picked up a magazine or visited a health food store recently should know that probiotics—a certain type of “good” bacteria—can aid your digestive health. But lest you dismiss these little microorganisms as just another vaguely-beneficial health supplement, know this: they’re actually quite the overachievers. And unlike your high school class president, you’ll actually want to hear about all that they can do—especially if you suffer from acne, eczema, or rosacea.

We spoke with Dr. Roshini Raj— gastroenterologist, doctor of internal medicine, and founder of the probiotic-based skincare line, TULA —and asked her to school us on all the skin benefits of probiotics (including why we should consider smearing it on our faces).

Bacteria Vs. Your Skin

First things first—let’s establish the fact that bacteria already exists on your skin. If that was a bombshell, we apologize. Here’s the good news: most of the bacterial cells that live inside and on your body are harmless, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In fact, some studies show that they can even be beneficial. But as any acne or rosacea-sufferer knows, it’s not all sunshine and roses—sometimes, your body may think living microorganisms are a potential threat, and spring into action to counter it, resulting in inflammation, redness, bumpiness, and more. This is where probiotics come in.

Topical Probiotics: Protect

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, topical probiotics work via “bacterial interference”—they literally interfere with the ability of bad bacteria to provoke an immune reaction, by preventing your skin cells from seeing them in the first place.

Topical Probiotics: Calm

“Recent research suggests that when applied topically, probiotics secrete anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory substances that help with conditions like acne, eczema and rosacea,” Dr. Raj says. “By calming inflammation, probiotics are also effective in targeting wrinkles and preventing premature aging.” […]

Budget-Friendly Anti-Aging Tips

Everyone wants to look and feel young and healthy and some will spend lots of money trying to maintain our youthful body. Health Magazine’s Medical Editor and Co-Founder of TULA Skin Care Line, Dr. Roshini Raj, shares with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Access Hollywood Live the secrets to looking younger without spending a dime.

For Acne Sufferers Probiotics May Be A Skin Sensation

Early research has shown that some topical probiotics, which are now found in a slew of skincare products, can also protect and soothe the skin. Some can even kill germs.

“They’re like little missiles that can punch holes in the walls of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi,” Dr. Whitney Bowe said.

Introducing TULA Skin Care

Q In Editor Divya Gugnani interviews Dr. Roshini Raj, Co-founder of TULA and Celebrity Health Expert, about her new skin care line.

Why Should You Go For Probiotics

Time for a gut check: are you missing out on the healing benefits of probiotics? Find out why you should join the culture club.
Beneath that hard won flat belly, your gut is teeming with trillions of bacteria. Some of these help you digest food as well as thwart intruders, while some may not be the ‘friendly’ kind. The trick is to keep the two in balance. Give the ‘good’ bacteria a boost by adding some to your diet in the form of probiotics-“live micro-organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host,” according to the World Health Organisation. “Your strength and energy comes from what you eat and from the way in which it is digested (your metabolism),” says Dr Rajini Rani, a scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, Delhi. If your metabolism is not functioning as it should, i.e., if food is not getting digested properly (for reasons ranging from poor food habits to stress), it could set you up for all sorts of physical problems-obesity, high blood sugar levels, even increased blood pressure. “By maintaining your gut health you can help the rest of your body too,” she says.

Probiotics
Prevent
Researchers go so far as to say that a healthy gut can lead to a long, healthy life. Early research, done in the 1950s, showed that the Bulgarians, who had a probiotics-rich diet lived for as long as 120 years! Over the years, researchers have pinpointed specific bacterial strains that can ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and help prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections (given as drugs). And preliminary research indicates that other strains may help reduce inflammation, thereby contributing to cardiovascular health and even to the prevention […]

Probiotics Hold Promise for 4 Skin Conditions

Maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria in the body has benefits beyond the digestive tract, it may also affect the health and appearance of the skin, researchers have found.

Consuming probiotics, or the “good bacteria,” similar to the trillions of microorganisms that already live in the body, in foods or as dietary supplements, might help to prevent or treat certain skin conditions, some early studies suggest.

The benefit of probiotics is that they introduce healthy bacteria to the gut and create a barrier to reduce inflammation, which can trigger certain skin conditions, said Dr. Whitney Bowe, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, who has researched the effect of probiotics on acne. She said there is compelling evidence that probiotics hold promise for treating acne and rosacea.

Another exciting area of research is the development of topical probiotics, which can be applied directly to the skin, Bowe said. Several manufacturers are currently experimenting with adding strains or extracts of probiotics to their skin care products, including moisturizers, cleansers, peels and lotions, and some products are already on the market.

Still, further study is needed to determine which strains may work best and how many of the bacteria survive once the probiotics are spread onto the skin’s surface.

Bowe said probiotics — whether they are eaten as foods, taken as supplements or spread topically — are not a stand-alone treatment for skin problems, but could be used by patients in combination with their current treatment.

She said she typically recommends probiotics to her patients with acne or rosacea who are taking antibiotics, which can wipe out both good and bad gut bacteria. She suggests getting probiotics daily from foods, such as […]

Are Probiotics the Secret to Clear Skin?

How “good” bacteria can improve skin’s health
There’s been much debate over the impact of certain foods on the skin but the latest miracle ingredient is more surprising than most.

Dermatologists in New York have been prescribing probiotics – which supplement the “good” bacteria that live in the stomach – alongside antibiotics to clear-up acne. This combination might sound implausible, but the results have proven otherwise.”By taking oral probiotic supplements or by eating probiotics in your diet, you can theoretically restore a healthy environment in your gut and keep the skin from getting inflamed,” New York dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe told Fox News.

The Cut spoke to Dr. Frank Lipman, Gwyneth Paltrow’s holistic doctor, to find out more about the benefits of including probiotics in our diets.”When our gut flora is not healthy, and there are more bad bacteria than good bacteria, a lot of problems can arise – including chronic inflammation, which is a cause of acne and other skin problems,” Dr. Lipman explained.”Some bad bacteria, fungus, and yeast can even cause inflammation in and of themselves. So, if you are looking to clear up your skin, you have to start with your gut.”What’s his recommendation for cleaning-up your gut? Try eliminating certain foods and eat more ingredients rich in probiotics such as miso, pickles and kefir.”Cut out wheat, sugar, and dairy from your diet for two weeks, and take probiotics to help reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne,” he says. “You can also take a fish-oil supplement to reduce inflammation.”As with most skin health issues, it all comes back to maintaining a balanced, healthy diet.

How Probiotics Will Improve Your Skin

The more time I spend in the beauty industry, the more I believe that clear, good skin is more of an art than a science. Sure, it’s science-based, but there’s an endless list of the things that are bad (sun, dairy, gluten, oils) and only a few things that are good (vitamin D; dairy, unless you are French; gluten, unless you are French; oils, if you know how to use them). But the list is far from definitive, because everyone’s skin is a special, delicate snowflake.

The latest to join the is-it-bad-or-is-it-good debate are probiotics. On Reddit skin-care message boards, the benefits and detriments of probiotics are hot topics, with some claiming that they are an acne miracle cure and others blaming them for cystic acne. The Cut’s senior editor Isabel Wilkinson added them to her diet at the suggestion of her dermatologist and saw a noticeable difference in clarity and tone. To understand some of the science behind them, I called Dr. Frank Lipman, Gwyneth Paltrow’s holistic doctor, who told me that probiotics can benefit skin by hosting “friendly” bacteria. Unlike a reality-show contestant, these bacteria are here to make friends. Read on to learn about whether probiotics are right for you and about the importance of a “diverse” gut flora (which has no relation to botany).

Most people know of probiotics via Jamie Lee Curtis yogurt commercials. What is a probiotic? 
Probiotics are the naturally occurring “good” bacteria that live in your gut and play a significant role in your total wellness.

When you’re healthy, your intestinal tract hosts over 100 trillion friendly bacteria (that’s 10 times more than the number of cells in your body), which spend their days aiding digestion, boosting the immune system, and consuming bad bacteria. They manufacture key nutrients and limit the […]

In-Office Solutions to Clear and Prevent Breakouts

Trapped dirt, oil and dead skin all lead to breakouts. An anti-acne facial can prevent breakouts, the deep pore-cleansing facial makes use of extractions and sometimes a light chemical peel to clear skin. “While there are other factors to pimples, eliminating one part of the problem with a pore-cleansing facial can help,” says Josanna Gaither, director of education and aesthetics for Natura Bissé.

Before any large breakout arises, it starts its life out as a small (sometimes microscopic) whitehead or blackhead. “If it’s not tackled early enough, it develops into something larger and can become a cyst or nodule,” explains Studio City, CA, dermatologist Gene Rubinstein, MD. And that’s where a deep pore-cleansing facial comes in. “The goal is to prevent breakouts before they start by keeping skin healthy.”
Antibacterials and anti-inflammatories like salicylic and lactic acids, benzoyl peroxide (in low doses), zinc and even probiotics are on deck since they break up acne-causing bacteria. Extractions are usually a big part of anti-acne facials too since debris living inside the pore is physically removed. (That, plus a mild glycolic or salicylic acid peel, literally wipes the pores clean to remove dead skin.) But when it comes to extractions, Dr. Rubinstein says if the skin needs to be broken to expel what’s in the pore, it has to be done precisely and properly by a licensed professional. “Otherwise, infection can occur as well as potential skin damage,” he says. Besides peels, microdermabrasion can be used as part of an acne-fighting facial since it works to remove the outermost layer of skin, allowing skin to breathe and function properly. A series of treatments is almost always needed to make a difference.
One reason why women shy away from facials is the fear of breaking out […]

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    L’oreal and Nestle Scientists: Probiotics May Improve Sensitive Skin From Within

L’oreal and Nestle Scientists: Probiotics May Improve Sensitive Skin From Within

Daily supplements containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei NCC 2461 (ST11) may reduce skin sensitivity, according to results of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.

Read more: Natural Ingredients USA