What your skin health says about your gut health

When it comes to our skin many of us are probably aware by now that what you eat can definitely have an impact on your overall skin health.

But did you know there are signs to look out for when it comes to making sure your gut is happy as well?

Geraldine Georgeou, author of The Australian Healthy Skin diet, explains there is actually more to our skin than meets the eye.

"While most of us think of it as a protective barrier to nasty pathogens and germs, our skin health can actually help us understand what is going on inside our bodies as well," she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

"Surprisingly, our skin can reveal a lot about the health of our gut."

RELATED:

• More time indoors has taken a huge toll on our skin

• Unhealthy makeup habits to avoid according to a dermatologist

• 5 science-backed ways to eradicate burnout for good

Here, Geraldine shares three facts that link our skin health to our gut microbiome:

1. Skin blemishes may actually be a sign that our gut isn’t functioning as it should

"External factors like lifestyle, diet ,and stress levels can and are known to contribute to skin problems like acne or hives.

Blemishes like these can actually be our body’s way of telling us there is an imbalance within our gut. We should look to restore this balance by helping the good gut bugs thrive by nourishing them with a balanced diet that is full of fibre."

2. Skin problems are impacted by our blood sugar levels

"Spikes in our blood sugar levels can sometimes contribute to skin problems as they cause inflammation in the body. Foods with a lower GI rating help the body to regulate sugar levels.

Wholegrain bread or even high-fibre cereals such as All-Bran can help keep blood sugar levels in check. Eating high fibre legumes, lentils, avocado and sweet potato are also good Low GI choices to add more fibre to your diet."

3. Irritated skin can be caused by non-coeliac gluten sensitivity

"Those who suffer from non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) tend to experience skin irritations like eczema and hives at a higher rate than those who don’t experience NCGS.

To counter this, people with gluten-intolerances might look to up their fibre intake to help reduce the inflammation that might cause these types of skin irritations. Gluten free foods that are higher in fibre are a good choice. Legumes, vegetables, fruit and some gluten free cereals with fibre such as Sultana Bran Gluten Free can help to boost fibre for people that are sensitive to gluten."

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.