It looks bad on the outside with your skin, but did you know that your insides—more specifically, your gut—could be the root cause of all your pain?
In this post, we’ll talk specifically about the relationship between SIBO and acne, and why healing your gut holds the key to improving your skin.
What Is SIBO and What Causes It?
Typically, you’ll find most gut bacteria in your large intestine. However, small intestinal bacterial growth (aka SIBO) happens when you get an overflow of bacteria in your small intestine. Symptoms of SIBO include digestive issues like nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and then, of course, acne.
But just what causes SIBO? That would be hypochlorhydria, which is just a fancy way of saying low stomach acid. Bad microbes cozy up in your small intestine when you’re low on stomach acid instead of being eliminated during digestion. It’s no coincidence that research shows a strong link between people with acne and low stomach acid.
How SIBO Can Explain Your Acne
This just in: Your skin mirrors your gut health. In other words, if you’re looking for clearer skin, it might be time to take a look underneath the hood and see what’s going on with your gut.
70% of your immune system can be found in your GI tract. So gut problems or stomach issues will impact other areas of your body, like your skin. That’s why—a lot of the time—SIBO and skin issues like acne go hand in hand. In fact, one study found people with acne were 10 times more likely to have SIBO when compared to a “healthy control group.”
So what’s the connection between SIBO and acne? Let’s take a look in more detail at how your gut impacts your skin.
An Imbalance in Your Gut Can Cause Acne
SIBO can spark shifts in your gut microbiome, which can lead to a gut imbalance, and ultimately, acne. Here’s all that works:
SIBO impacts the structure of your small intestine structure and its ability to function properly. So if you have SIBO, the damage to your small intestine might make it difficult for your body to digest food and take in nutrients the way it should.
When your small intestine’s not functioning properly, it can spill over and cause problems for your large intestine that lead to an overgrowth of bacteria. This shift in your gut microbiome is what can cause acne, in addition to a host of other gut and digestive issues.
