Can gut health problems cause acne, eczema, or psoriasis?
Yes, gut imbalances can contribute to skin issues including acne, eczema, and psoriasis. When the microbiome shifts or the gut lining becomes more permeable, immune and inflammatory signals increase and often show up on the skin. Rebalancing digestion, restoring barrier integrity, and addressing triggers from food, stress, and infections can improve skin clarity.
How the gut and skin talk to each other
Think of your gut and skin as two neighborhoods sharing the same power grid. If the gut circuit shorts, the skin lights flicker. Dysbiosis, an overgrowth or relative loss of helpful microbes, and a compromised intestinal barrier can increase immune signals that drive redness, itching, and breakouts. Short-chain fatty acids made by beneficial gut microbes also help calm inflammation and support healthy skin cells. As a functional medicine practitioner, I translate these details into a clear plan you can follow.
Key gut drivers that can flare skin
- Dysbiosis raises pro-inflammatory waste and histamine production
- Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) lets immune-provoking particles cross the gut wall.
- Nutrient shortfalls from malabsorption, low zinc, omega-3s, or B vitamins slow repair.
- Gallbladder (Bile) and detox traffic jams can affect hormones and skin oil balance.
- Stress physiology shifts motility and the microbiome, priming the skin for flares.
Acne, eczema, and psoriasis through the gut health lens
Acne: Imbalanced gut microbes can influence sebum, insulin signaling, and inflammation. Some people improve when we stabilize blood sugar, increase fiber and omega-3s, and, when indicated, use targeted probiotics based on testing.
Eczema: Barrier problems often start inside. When the gut is leaky or inflamed, immune reactivity rises, and the skin barrier struggles. Calming the gut, supporting lipids, and identifying food triggers can reduce itching and nighttime flares.
Psoriasis: This immune-driven condition often coexists with gut dysbiosis. Supporting microbial balance, vitamin D sufficiency, and metabolic health while easing inflammatory load can make topical or conventional care work better. At Dr. Kenny’s clinic we pair your dermatologist’s plan with gut-first strategies so you are not fighting fires on the surface alone.
My root-cause approach to clearer skin
At Dr. Kenny’s virtual clinic we do not guess, we test. I map your story, then use advanced labs to find the real bottlenecks.
- Functional GI testing to assess dysbiosis, inflammation, digestion, and yeast or pathogen overgrowth.
- SIBO breath testing though I don’t use this often, it’s an option for confirmatory testing. Often symptoms and history alone can strongly suggest this pattern if bloat or post-meal flares point upstream to the small intestine.
- Organic Acids Testing for B-vitamin status, mitochondrial stress, oxalate burden, detoxification roadblocks, and microbial metabolites.
- Targeted bloodwork for nutrients like zinc, ferritin, vitamin D, and essential fatty acids when appropriate.
Phased care so your skin can heal without chaos
- Remove irritants, subtle food triggers, alcohol excess, ultra-processed sugars, and treat infections if present.
- Rebuild the terrain with fiber, polyphenols, omega-3s, minerals, and hydration to feed your microbes and skin barrier.
- Restore the barrier with glutamine, zinc carnosine, collagen, and butyrate-supporting fibers when indicated.
- Rebalance microbes with precise probiotics or botanicals based on labs, not a random supplement list.
- Regulate stress sleep rhythm, breathwork, and light movement to steady the gut-brain-skin loop.
Most people start noticing steadier skin as digestion improves, energy evens out, and flares space farther apart. We keep adjustments simple and sustainable so your skin change sticks.
Additional Resources:
- If you’ve ever wondered whether your skin flares could be linked to a leaky gut lining, you’ll want to start here: What is Leaky Gut and How Do I Know If I Have It?
- And if you’re curious about what gut testing can really reveal beneath the surface, this article walks through it step by step: What Does a Functional Medicine Stool Test Actually Show?
- A 2021 review summarized the gut-skin axis, showing how dysbiosis and intestinal signals influence inflammatory skin disease
- A 2024 randomized controlled trial reported that an oral probiotic improved acne severity versus placebo and was well tolerated.
Ready to support your skin from the inside out?
Answered by Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt, DACM, DC, IFMCP
Certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols to uncover root causes of health roadblocks.