When it comes to looking after our skin, most of us focus on what we put on the surface — serums, creams, and sometimes prescription treatments. What often gets overlooked is the role of the gut and how your digestive health can directly affect the way your skin looks and feels. Increasing research now shows a clear connection between the gut and skin, with imbalances in the microbiome and gut lining influencing issues such as acne, eczema, and premature ageing.
At The Health Suite Leicester, we recognise that skin health is often more than skin deep. Conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, or recurrent rashes don’t always originate at the surface — they can reflect imbalances elsewhere in the body, particularly in the gut and immune system. Research shows that the gut–skin axis plays a role in inflammation, nutrient absorption, and immune responses, all of which can influence how your skin looks and feels every day.
Why the Gut and Skin Are Connected
It may seem on the surface that our gut and skin health aren’t related, but if you think about it, they’re both barriers, acting as protective shields that keep harmful substances out and help the body maintain balance. The lining of your gut filters what can and can’t enter your bloodstream, whilst your skin acts as the first defence against the outside world.
These two systems also communicate with each other through the immune system, the nervous system, and, unsurprisingly, your hormones. It means that when your gut is inflamed, imbalanced, or overworked, your skin often shows the signs.
This emerging science is sometimes referred to as the gut–skin axis, a term that captures just how closely these two parts of the body interact.
The Microbiome
Our gut is home to trillions of microbes, which we refer to as the microbiome, and while we associate the word bacteria with “bad germs”, they’re essential for health because without them our bodies would not be able to sustain us. It’s a symbiotic relationship where they help us break down food, regulate our immune system, and even produce nutrients and neurotransmitters.
A diverse and balanced microbiome promotes a healthy immune response, which helps to keep inflammation at bay. But when it becomes imbalanced, it has an outward ripple effect. The immune system may become overactive, inflammation may rise, and your skin can bear the brunt, often in the form of acne, eczema, psoriasis, or just generally lacklustre skin.
Common Skin Conditions Linked to Gut Health
- Acne: Research suggests that acne may be linked to gut imbalances, inflammation, and dietary factors. Poor digestion and high-glycaemic diets can raise insulin and IGF-1 levels, which stimulate oil production and increase the likelihood of breakouts. Some studies also show differences in the gut microbiome of people with acne, suggesting that supporting gut balance may play a role in managing symptoms.
- Rosacea: Characterised by chronic redness and flushing — has been associated with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) in several studies. Treating SIBO, either with targeted antibiotics or dietary strategies that support gut health, has been shown to improve symptoms in some cases. While not all rosacea is caused by gut imbalances, there is evidence that the two may be connected.
- Eczema: Involves a close relationship between the immune system and the gut barrier. When gut permeability (sometimes referred to as “leaky gut”) increases, inflammatory molecules may pass into the bloodstream and aggravate skin sensitivity. Children with eczema are also more likely to show altered microbiome patterns compared with those without the condition, pointing to a possible role for gut health in eczema development and flares.
- Psoriasis: Is a complex autoimmune condition where genetics, immunity, and environmental triggers all play a role. Research suggests that gut inflammation, altered microbiota, and increased intestinal permeability may contribute to the systemic inflammation that drives flare-ups. While gut health is not the sole cause, restoring balance may help reduce symptom severity and support overall skin health.
The Role of Diet
We’ve all been told that we are what we eat, and it comes as no surprise to anyone that what we eat has a serious effect on both our gut and skin. When we consume diets that are higher in refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods, we fuel inflammation and imbalance the microbiome. Whereas diets that are packed with whole foods, fibre, colourful vegetables, omega-3 fats, and fermented foods help strengthen the gut barrier and feed beneficial microbes.
Now this isn’t to say that changing your diet can cure every skin condition, but it can be a powerful way to make a lasting difference to the gut microbiome and thus help your skin and overall health in the long run. Even small improvements, for example, like reducing sugar intake, drinking more water, or adding probiotic foods like kefir or sauerkraut, can be beneficial.
At The Health Suite Leicester, we take a food-first approach — focusing on diet and lifestyle strategies that support both digestion and skin health. Every recommendation is tailored to the individual, ensuring you receive a plan that reflects your unique needs rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
Stress, the Gut, and Your Skin
The significance of stress cannot be understated when it comes to the gut-brain connection. When it’s under chronic stress, your body starts producing more cortisol, which causes a cascade of effects like disrupting digestion and weakening the gut lining. And this can lead to flare-ups in skin conditions.
Of course, this gets more complicated because the skin itself reacts to stress hormones by producing more oil, becoming more sensitive, or even taking longer to heal itself.
Beyond Diet: Therapies That Support Gut and Skin
At The Health Suite Leicester, we view skin health through a holistic lens — recognising that the gut often plays a central role. Alongside tailored nutrition and lifestyle plans, we offer advanced therapies designed to support both gut and skin function:
- IV Nutrient Therapy – Delivers key vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream for maximum absorption, helping to correct deficiencies that can affect both skin repair and gut function.
- Red Light Therapy – A non-invasive treatment that supports cellular repair, reduces inflammation, and promotes natural collagen production for healthier, clearer skin.
- Personalised Functional Medicine Tests – Identify hidden deficiencies, hormone imbalances, or gut issues that may be contributing to persistent skin concerns.
When combined with personalised dietary and lifestyle guidance, these therapies create a whole-system approach to gut and skin health — offering lasting improvements rather than short-term fixes.
Why Self-Treating Isn’t Enough
When you scroll TikTok or Instagram, you’ll notice your homepage is inundated with supplements and protocols promising to “heal your gut” give you glowing glass skin or add 5 years to your life. And while some of these may help, others can do more harm than good – especially if they’re not specific to your unique needs.
A notable example is probiotics, which are marketed as a universal solution to gut health issues, despite different strains having different effects, and not all of them are suitable for everyone. The same goes for elimination diets, which may reduce symptoms in some people but can lead to nutrient deficiencies in others.
It’s why professional guidance is so important. Here at The Health Suite Leicester, we don’t guess – we test, interpret, and design strategies that are truly aligned with your body’s requirements.
The Bottom Line
Whether it’s acne, eczema or psoriasis, it turns out that your skin reflects what’s happening inside your gut. That’s why when you eat nourishing foods and learn ways to manage stress, you’ll see not only clearer skin but also improvements in your day-to-day life.
Take the Next Step with The Health Suite Leicester
If you’ve been struggling with skin concerns that never seem to resolve, it may be time to look deeper at your gut. Here at The Health Suite Leicester, our approach involves combining advanced testing, personalised nutrition, and advanced therapies to help you achieve true, lasting results.
Don’t settle for temporary fixes. Book a consultation today and let us help you unlock the connection between gut health and glowing skin, from the inside out.
