Q I heard that gut health also affects skin. Is that true?
A Yes, gut health and skin condition are closely connected through the concept of the gut-skin axis. Gut microbiome imbalance can raise systemic inflammation levels, worsening inflammatory skin diseases such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Taking probiotics, eating enough dietary fiber, and limiting processed foods can also benefit skin health.
Detailed Answer
The gut-skin axis is the pathway through which the intestinal microbiome affects skin condition via the immune, hormonal, and nervous systems. When leaky gut occurs, toxins such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) enter the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation that manifests as skin inflammation. Conversely, many cases report that improving the gut environment through dietary fiber, fermented foods, and probiotics reduces skin trouble.
Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective
In Korean medicine, the connection between the gut and skin is explained through the exterior-interior (表裏) relationship between the Lung (肺) and Large Intestine (大腸). When large intestine function is impaired, lung qi (肺氣) becomes obstructed, causing waste products to accumulate in the skin and worsen breakouts. Improving large intestine function with moistening herbs such as Ephedra (麻黃), apricot kernel (杏仁), and peach kernel (桃仁) often produces concurrent skin improvement.
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