Can Probiotics Cause Skin Problems? (what I discovered)

Probiotics for the skin are quite a trend now. But what if you take a supplement to improve your skin condition but end up worsening it? 

Yes, sadly, probiotics can cause rashes and worsen the inflammatory reactions associated with skin diseases.

But how come a product cures the rash for one person while worsening it for the other?

The short answer is that it depends upon your tolerance to probiotic secretions and the strains you take.

Keep reading to find out why and how probiotics affect your skin and if they would give you a rash or cure it;

Can Probiotics Affect Your Skin?

Probiotics supplementation can make a difference in your skin health through the following mechanisms;

• Probiotics increase the ceramide quantity on the skin, making it more resistant to rash and itches. (Ceramides safeguard your skin against allergens and prevent dehydration of the skin)
• Probiotics fight pathogenic bacteria and inhibit the absorption of germs in blood and their transport from the gut to the skin.
• Probiotics are anti-inflammatory immunity boosters. They produce secretions that reduce inflammation and strengthen immunity against allergens and pathogens.

All in all, probiotics are known for their positive effects on the skin. However, sometimes users complain of worsening skin issues after starting a probiotic supplement. 

Continue reading as I have discussed in the next section the underlying reason why some people get rashes with probiotics;

Can Probiotics Give You Rashes?

In short, yes, it’s possible to get a skin rash with probiotics. However, not everyone experiences an allergic reaction to probiotics. 

Simply put, whether or not you get a rash with probiotics depends upon your histamine tolerance, the strains in your supplement, and its manufacturing quality.

Probiotics Rash Can be A Histamine Allergy

Histamine sensitivity is the main reason behind probiotics rash. Many strains produce histamine as a metabolic by-product. And if your amine tolerance is naturally low, you will likely get a skin breakout.

Still, not every probiotic produces the same amount of histamine. Some strains produce a lot, others produce only a minimal amount, while many are also histamine neutrals. 

So, a precaution to avoid rashes and allergy flare-ups with probiotics is to use supplements with less high histamine strains.

Low-quality Supplements May Contain Allergens

A reason for breaking out with probiotics can be the low manufacturing quality o the supplement. If probiotics are exposed to food allergens like eggs, wheat, or peanut ingredients during manufacturing, they can likely trigger an allergy.

And skin issues like redness, rashes, hives, acne, and burning sensation are often the symptoms of these allergic reactions.

So, it’s important to choose those probiotics only that are free from all food allergens and preservatives.

Allergic Reaction to Probiotics Depends On Your Skin Condition

Chances of getting a rash with any supplement increase if your skin is naturally prone to rashes and breakouts. Also, the effects of every product vary from person to person 

Similar is the case for probiotics. Some people use them to cure rashes, while others get rashes with them!

Here, I would highly recommend you consult your dermatologist before trying a supplement if you have sensitive skin. That’s because a product that works well for others may or may not have the same effects on your skin.

For instance, this Reddit thread with probiotic rash pictures shows how many people with dyshidrosis experience a serious reaction to probiotics.

Post by lasimlev reports a similar case; she reported that her skin is prone to eczema, rashes, and clogged pores. And when she tried probiotics to stay safe from medication side effects, she got a Rosacea flare-up.

Her cheeks flushed in bright red, accompanied by a burning sensation.

But on the other side, many Rosacea patients use probiotics to treat the condition. These users report many signs probiotics are working for this condition, such as a reduction in redness and sensitivity. 

Can Taking Probiotics Cause Your Skin To Break Out?

Taking probiotics might cause your skin to break out by increasing histamine levels in your blood. If you naturally lack the enzymes to metabolize histamine, your immune system will consider the increased histamine a harmful substance.

Thus, your skin releases inflammatory compounds as an autoimmune response. But such breakouts are rarely reported and come from hypersensitive persons.

For those with normal amine tolerance, probiotics don’t cause skin breakouts. Instead, they help improve skin hydration, allergy resistance, and rash clearance.

User experiences, as shared in this post, report that by using probiotics, itchy skin, hives, and redness during a flare-up are much reduced.

Can Too Many Probiotics Cause Skin Problems?

Again the answer is; it depends on your histamine tolerance. If you have a high tolerance, you won’t see a difference if you take an extra dose of probiotics.

However, if you are hypersensitive, you may get a skin rash even using a small dose.

Also, the composition of your supplement matters. If it has high histamine strains, taking a larger dose can cause skin issues. But if the number of high histamine strains is small, the risk of skin issues is also reduced.

However, overdosing is not a good idea for any supplement because you can’t be sure of the safety if you exceed the dosage recommendation.

Also, special precaution is needed if you have some underneath skin issues like Rosacea, Dyshidrosis, or Eczema. Such individuals must discuss the probiotics with their dermatologist first and then begin the supplementation.

Do Oral Probiotics Help Skin? (Which Ones?) 

If you are struggling with bad skin issues, following low-histamine probiotics can help solve them naturally;

1. Yourbiology Gut+ – Best Female Probiotics For Skin Rashes

It is a 4-strain probiotic containing Bifidobacterium lactis and 3 Lactobacillus bacteria (L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei).

All these are neutral or low histamine strains. So, you will get the anti-inflammatory benefits with no risk of probiotic skin rashes. Especially, L. paracasei makes Yourbiology one of the best probiotics for skin inflammation.

2. Biotics 8 – Best Multi-strain Probiotics for Skin Issues

My next pick for best skin probiotics is Biotics 8. 

It has 10 strains, Lactobacillus (L. casei, L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, L. longum, L. acidophilus, L. Rhamnosus, Bifidobacteria strains (B. longum, B. breve), Saccharomyces cerevisiae .

All these strains are low histamine except for 1. This way, it proves to be a stronger barrier against harmful bacteria causing skin troubles.

3. Culturelle Probiotic – Best Low-price Probiotics For Skin Inflammation

Culturelle is a single-strain product, having billions of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in each capsule.

This low-histamine bacteria fights well with harmful bacteria and increases the allergen resistivity of the skin.

FAQs

Can probiotics cause a rash on the face?

Probiotics can cause a rash on the face if you are histamine sensitive and take a dose of a supplement with high histamine strains.

Especially persons with underlying issues (like the Rosacea case discussed above) are more prone to such rashes.

Do probiotics make your skin sensitive?

Probiotics strengthen immunity owing to their anti-inflammatory properties and are also known to uplift skin ceramide levels. Both these factors make skin less sensitive and more resistant to allergies and breakouts. 

Can a probiotic cause acne?

It’s rare to see acne with probiotics. Instead, friendly gut bacteria fight germs, causing them to break out and help you achieve all-clear and glowing skin.

Read this detailed post to find out how much potential the probiotics hold for causing acne.