Attention: here's why probiotics will transform your skin!
Probiotics, once reserved for dietary supplements, are now essential active ingredients in skin and hair care products. Known for their role in balancing the gut microbiota, these living microorganisms have proven their effectiveness in dermatology and cosmetology. Hydration, protection against skin aging, reduction of inflammation... Probiotics could well be the key to healthy skin. In this article, discover everything you need to know about the benefits of probiotics in cosmetics and how to incorporate them into your beauty routine.
What are probiotics and how do they work? ?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeasts that play an essential role in maintaining the balance of microbiota, whether in the gut or on the skin. Naturally present on the skin, they help strengthen the protective barrier against external aggressions (pollution, UV rays, stress).
In cosmetics, probiotics are incorporated in the form of inactive but still effective microorganisms. They work by stimulating the skin's natural defenses and modulating its microbiota to promote more resistant and balanced skin.
The benefits of probiotics for the skinat
1. Enhanced hydration
Some probiotics, such as plantarum, promote the production of hyaluronic acid, a key molecule for maintaining hydrated and plumped skin. Their action helps to strengthen the skin barrier and prevent dehydration.
2. Protection against skin aging
Probiotics help preserve collagen and elastin, two proteins essential for skin firmness and suppleness. By fighting the enzymes responsible for their breakdown, they delay the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.
3. An antioxidant shield
When exposed to UV rays, pollution, or stress, the skin undergoes oxidative stress, which accelerates aging. Certain probiotics stimulate the production of natural antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing the free radicals responsible for premature aging.
4. Soothed skin that is less prone to inflammation
Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, regulate the skin's inflammatory responses, helping to calm redness, irritation, and discomfort. Their action is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin prone to eczema, rosacea, or inflammatory acne.
5. Regulation of the skin microbiota
An imbalance in the microbiota can lead to excess sebum production, blemishes, and breakouts. Probiotics help rebalance the skin's flora, reducing the appearance of pimples and blemishes.
The benefits of probiotics for hair
1. Soothe the scalp
An unbalanced scalp can cause itching, dandruff, and hypersensitivity. Probiotics help calm irritation and restore balance to the scalp's microbiota.
2. Protect hair from external aggressions
Pollution, UV rays, heat... These factors weaken the hair fiber. Probiotics strengthen the natural barrier of the scalp and hair, limiting their sensitivity to damage.
3. Stimulate hair growth?
Some studies suggest that probiotics may have an impact on hair growth by improving scalp health and reducing inflammation that disrupts the hair cycle. However, further research is still needed.
How can you incorporate probiotics into your beauty routine?
Cosmetic treatments enriched with probiotics
More and more creams, serums, and masks are incorporating probiotics into their formulas. They are particularly suitable for sensitive, reactive, and blemish-prone skin.
Dietary supplements and natural probiotics
The gut-skin axis plays a key role in skin health. A diet rich in fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso) or probiotic supplements can have a positive impact on skin quality.
