While the natural product industry spends most of its efforts on the beauty aspects of skin care, the market for skin conditions also offers a huge opportunity. Skin conditions affect almost 900 million people in the world at any given time.[i]  In the U.S., five skin conditions make up 80 percent of all skin diseases (acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer).[ii] The entire skincare market is enormous. The market size was valued at 104+ billion (USD) in 2022 and is projected to reach a valuation of USD 109.71 billion in 2023.[iii]

For centuries people have been approaching skin health with topical applications, yet physiologically speaking the best approach is “beauty from within”.  Why? Skin cells grow from the inside out, not the outside in.  We are now learning that consuming key nutrients, will have a significant impact on skin health far beyond beauty. 

The concept of what you look like (skin health) on the outside being connected to gut health has been around for centuries.  Chinese medicine believes there is a connection to the skin through two primary organs: the lungs and the large intestine.  Recently we have added the term "Gut-Skin axis."  The Gut-Skin Axis is a concept surrounding the relationship between gut and skin health.  Researchers have found that the skin can become irritated when gut health is off.  Skin irritations might include breakouts, skin sensitivity, redness, signs of aging, and more.

When there are imbalances in the gut, it releases pro-inflammatory cytokines throughout the body.  Looking at the science, we see many areas of poor gut health yielding skin issues.

• People with rosacea were significantly more likely to have small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth.[iv]

• People with inflammatory bowel disease often have inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis.[v]

• Patients with IBD had a significantly increased risk of inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis. [vi] 

• Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is associated with an altered immune response, promoting the development of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, and dandruff.[vii]

One of the key players in the gut-skin axis is the epithelial lining.  This lining is designed to act as a barrier or gatekeeper.  When functioning correctly, it keeps foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins out while allowing essential nutrients to enter the bloodstream.[viii] [ix]  When this lining becomes damaged, it will lead to a cascade of health issues, including skin problems.

SkinCareTM (L. plantarum HY7714) Connecting the Microbiome to Skin Health

SkinCareTM is a clinically substantiated probiotic showing significant benefits to skin health.  The recent clinical study[x] showed:

• 23.6% increase in facial water content

• 88.1% reduction in trans epidermal water loss

• 21.7% increase in skin elasticity

• 16.5% increase in skin gloss

• Subjective Wrinkle Reduction

 4 Unique Mechanisms of Action in One Ingredient

1. Clinically proven reduction in Zonulin, Calprotectin, MMP-2 and MMP-9

• Zonulin- Is a protein synthesized in intestinal and liver cells, that reversibly regulates intestinal permeability. (Leaky Gut)

• Calprotectin- Is a protein released by white blood cells and triggers inflammation in the bowel.

• MMP-2- Is found to be increased in those with intestinal inflammation.

• MMP-9- Is found to be increased in those with intestinal inflammation.

2.  Increases in Actinobacteria by 123%

• Actinobacteria are pivotal in the maintenance of gut homeostasis (balance)[xi]

3.  Increases in Verrucomicrobia by 167%

• Verrucomicrobia are involved in maintaining the intestinal integrity and health of the gut and linked to a decreased risk of disease[xii]

4. Decreases in Proteobacteria by 65%

• Proteobacteria are associated with compromised gut microbial community and an increased risk of disease[xiii]

SkinCareTM: Formulating Outside the Box

For those seeking to market into two of the hottest sectors in the natural health industry (Beauty from Within and the Microbiome), SkinCareTM offers you the ability to hit both targets with one ingredient.  Not only will you have a successful product, but the results were also seen within 8-weeks.  Adding “fast acting” never hurts your sales and marketing efforts.

[i] Hay RJ, Johns NE, Williams HC, Bolliger IW, Dellavalle RP, Margolis DJ, Marks R et al. The global burden of skin disease in 2010: an analysis of the prevalence and impact of skin conditions. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134:1527–34. doi:10.1038/jid.2013.446

[ii] Amrican Academy of Dermatology Association website, https://www.aad.org/media/stats-numbers#:~:text=Acne%20is%20the%20most%20common,to%2050%20million%20Americans%20annually.&text=Acne%20usually%20begins%20in%20puberty,experience%20at%20least%20minor%20acne., “Skin Conditions by the Numbers,  Accessed June 21, 2023

[iii] Fortune Business Insights website, Skincare Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Creams, Lotions, Powders, Sprays, and Others), Packaging Type (Tube, Bottle, Jar, and Others), Gender (Men and Women), Distribution Channel (Cosmetic Stores, Supermarkets/ Hypermarkets, Online Channels, and Others), and Regional Forecasts, 2023-2030, https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/skin-care-market-102544, published June 2023, accessed June 23, 2023

[iv] Parodi A, Paolino S, Greco et al., Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;6(7):759-64.

[v] Kim M, Choi KH, Hwang SW, et al., Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory skin diseases: A population-based cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2017. 76(1): p. 40-48.

[vi] Kim M, Choi KH, Hwang SW, et al., Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory skin diseases: A population-based cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2017. 76(1): p. 40-48.

[vii] De Pessemier B, Grine L, Debaere M, Maes A, Paetzold B, Callewaert C. Gut-Skin Axis: Current Knowledge of the Interrelationship between Microbial Dysbiosis and Skin Conditions.  Microorganisms.  2021 Feb 11;9(2):353. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020353.  PMID: 33670115; PMCID: PMC7916842.

[viii] Yang E, Relationship between Helicobacter pylori and Rosacea: review and discussion, BMC Infectious Diseases, 2018; 18: 318

[ix]Kanwar AJ, Skin barrier function.  Indian J Med Res. 2018 Jan; 147(1):117-118.

[x] Ref: Lee D, et al. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015; 25(12):2160-2168

[xi] Binda C, Lopetuso LR, Rizzatti G, Gibiino G, Cennamo V, Gasbarrini A. Actinobacteria: A relevant minority for the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Dig Liver Dis. 2018 May;50(5):421-428. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2018.02.012. Epub 2018 Mar 5. PMID: 29567414.

[xii] Geerlings SY, Kostopoulos I, de Vos WM, Belzer C. Akkermansia muciniphila in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract: When, Where, and How? Microorganisms. 2018 Jul 23;6(3):75. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms6030075. PMID: 30041463; PMCID: PMC6163243.

[xiii] Shin NR, Whon TW, Bae JW. Proteobacteria: microbial signature of dysbiosis in gut microbiota. Trends Biotechnol. 2015 Sep;33(9):496-503. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.06.011. Epub 2015 Jul 22. PMID: 26210164.