Science reveals a symbiotic relationship between a healthy gut and the brain, immune system and skin. The next forefront of gut health medicine leans into aesthetic medicine to enhance outcomes. Understanding what is happening beneath the skin, at the gut level, impacts how the skin and body function, age and respond to aesthetic interventions. Physicians now recognize that a balanced gut is critical for optimizing procedures that run the gamut from wrinkle-reducing injectables and fillers to modern-day facelifts and beyond.
As the digestive health market is expected to expand to an estimated value of $104 billion by 2032, the medical community’s understanding of the chemical and neurological connections between the gut, brain and skin will grow stronger. The gut, which runs from the mouth to the rectum, regulates food intake and output as the first line of nutrition absorption and delivery of digestive enzymes. But, unbeknownst to many, it is essential in overall body regulation and functions. As many as 45% of Americans say their daily lives are affected by digestive issues stemming from gut imbalances.
Billions of bacteria exist within the gut (the microbiome), which play a role in immune system health, optimizing digestion and elimination, and producing B vitamins and vitamin K2. Yet, when the gut microbiome experiences dysbiosis, more bad bacteria than good outnumber it, and an imbalance occurs. Lifestyle choices, inflammation, environmental toxins, stress levels, antibiotics, alcohol consumption and diet, all cause changes to the gut balance. According to Derrick DeSilva, MD (Edison, N.J.), an internal medicine physician, diet is the leading cause of a weakened gut, followed by overconsumption of antibiotics, acid blockers and environmental toxins. “After taking an antibiotic, it takes three to six months to rebuild the flora in the gut,” he shared.
Dysbiosis manifests as inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, chronic depression, anxiety, weight gain and loss, diabetes, fatigue, and insomnia. In more extreme cases, dysbiosis results in cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cancer and obesity. “Leaky gut syndrome, where chronic inflammation increases permeability and toxins flow into the bloodstream, correlates with dysbiosis,” explained Francisco Llano, MD, a specialist in nutrition and anti-aging in Mexico City, Mexico.
This is a sample article from The Aesthetic Guide.
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