This article is the second of our two-part overview on the gut-skin connection. Here, we dive deeper into why healing and protecting your gut is integral to optimal skin health and unlocking your natural radiance from within.

For a step-by-step guide on healing your gut, clearing acne, and feeling your absolute best, get my latest e-book today: Glow From Within: A 14-Day Gut & Skin Reset For Acne-Free Skin.  

A common misconception about acne is that, since it’s a skin condition, the solution is only skin-deep. 

During the years of my constant battle with acne, I obsessed over skincare products and tried every so-called “miracle” out there. But no matter what I tried, nothing worked to clear away my acne—because the root cause of my acne was much deeper. Literally. The real problem was my gut. 

Your skin, the largest organ in the human body, is connected to your gut through the gut-skin axis. And this relationship isn’t just supported by science—it’s something a lot of us have experienced firsthand. Like many who struggle with breakouts, the stubborn acne on my jaw, chin, and back came with several other issues, like constipation, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, dermatitis, and yeast overgrowth.

The turning point for me was when I learned that these were all symptoms of my leaky gut. 

When I started healing my gut holistically, everything changed from the inside out. Clear, acne-free skin was just the beginning of my glow-up—it was a reflection of my improved digestion, increased energy, restored vitality, and sharpened mental clarity. 

If you’re struggling with digestive acne, this article is for you.

What Is The Gut-Skin Axis? 

The gut-skin axis is the connection between your skin health and gut health. Several studies report a higher prevalence of acne among people with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Healthy stomach acid levels are necessary for proper digestion, and some reports suggest a link between low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) and acne.

Research also suggests a link between certain gut microbiota and blood metabolites associated with acne. In Netflix’s Hack Your Health: The Secrets Of Your Gut, we see an interesting, real-life anecdote. A doctoral student who frequently experienced indigestion, stabbing pains from trapped gas, and severe constipation, underwent a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). After the procedure, she experienced weight gain and hormonal acne similar to that of her donor—her brother. 

How Poor Gut Health Can Cause Acne

Your gut is the foundation of true health—it’s critical to nearly every system in your body. Your gut is an ecosystem of trillions of different species of microbes, known as the gut microbiome. A diverse and balanced gut microbiome plays a vital role in optimizing digestion, supporting immune function, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and synthesizing essential vitamins and amino acids—all contributing to healthy, glowing skin.

My Glow from Within: 14-Day Gut & Skin Reset E-Book focuses on supporting and balancing the gut with nutrient-rich, chef-worthy recipes along with the best supplements and practices for long-term skin clarity. Taking probiotics increases both the population and diversity of different species of beneficial gut microbiota, and eating fiber-rich, prebiotic foods feed those beneficial microbiota. 

When the delicate balance of your gut microbiome is disturbed, it can lead to a cascade of effects that show up through the gut-skin axis.

What Is Gut Dysbiosis?

Gut dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, where beneficial microorganisms decrease, harmful microorganisms increase, or the overall diversity of microbial species is reduced.

Processed foods, gluten, refined sugar, antibiotics, stress, toxins, pollutants, additives, and heavy metals are just some of the factors that can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut microbiome, leading to gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis may contribute to chronic inflammation, which has been associated with a number of different skin conditions and digestive issues.

What Is Gut Inflammation?

Inflammation is the activation of your immune system in response to injury or infection. There are two types: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is your body’s natural, short-term response that helps heal injury or infection. Chronic inflammation, however, involves a persistently elevated immune response, which can lead to tissue damage and the development of various chronic diseases.

Gut dysbiosis can cause chronic gut inflammation, one of the key drivers of IBD. Individuals with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may experience acne, and it isn’t the only skin condition linked to gut inflammation. Eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea can also reflect imbalances in the gut.

Over time, chronic inflammation in the gut weakens the gut lining and can lead to a condition known as leaky gut. 

What Is Leaky Gut?

Your gut lining is made up of intestinal epithelial cells connected by tight junctions, forming a protective barrier. This barrier regulates what passes into the bloodstream, allowing beneficial nutrients while preventing unwanted substances. Chronic gut inflammation can weaken these tight junctions, leading to increased intestinal permeability, which allows undigested food particles, toxins, and bacteria to leak into the bloodstream. This can trigger systemic inflammation, showing up throughout the body as acne and redness.

My Skin & Gut Health Journey: Why I’m Not Gatekeeping What Worked For Me

I personally struggled with leaky gut for years. I wasn’t just uncomfortable (and often in pain) all the time—I felt miserable, tired, and disconnected from my body. 

My poor gut health wasn’t because of just one thing. There were several factors: a childhood of eating processed and junk food, the Standard American Diet (there’s a reason for its acronym—SAD!), heavy metals, stress, and anxiety. My gut was in need of serious repair.

My Holistic 14-Day Gut & Skin Protocol For Acne-Free Skin 

I’m not a doctor, but as a chef, holistic nutritionist, and someone who has spent decades learning how to heal my body, I’m excited to share what’s worked for me, in the hope it helps you heal your body, too.

Before learning about the gut-skin axis and finding all-natural, holistic tools and strategies for optimal gut health, I had seen 11 conventional doctors who told me everything was “fine.” I was even recommended antibiotics, which have their place, but are often overprescribed. Antibiotics disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, which can contribute to gut dysbiosis and compromise skin health. Topical or oral medications can offer temporary relief, but may not address the root cause. When you stop taking the medication, the acne can return with a vengeance.

Healing my gut gave me relief from years of discomfort, and a real solution for my skin. My proven 14-day gut-healing protocol isn’t just another band-aid fix. It’s the exact protocol I use anytime my skin flares up after travel, stress, or falling out of routine—and it works every time.

My 81-page, step-by-step guide will teach you how to reset your gut, calm inflammation, and clear your acne by listening to your body, deeply nourishing yourself, and building habits that create noticeable improvements. 

Start Your Glow-Up Today: Glow from Within: A 14-Day Gut & Skin Reset for Acne-Free Skin