Dating back 2000+ years ago, Hippocrates claimed that ‘all disease begins in the gut.’ Often referred to as our ‘second brain’, the gut plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. Today, this wisdom resonates with modern research on the gut-brain axis. It consists in multiple connections in the body, including:

• the vagus nerve, the longest nerve which physically connects the gut with the brain;
• the central and enteric nervous systems ;
• the hypothalamic-pituatary-adrenal axis, associated to the stress response ;
• the gut microbiota ;
• the immune system.

The skin is an ever-changing organ due to its multiple exchanges with its environment and the rest of the body, including the gut but also the brain.

Gut-Skin Axis

Recent studies have solidified the connection between gut and skin health. For instance, it has been recognized that 54% of acne patients show alterations in their gut flora. In the same way, reduced diversity in early-life intestinal microbiota increases the risk of atopic disorders [1-3].

Brain-Skin Axis

The skin and the nervous system are physiologically linked and share common neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Stress directly disrupts these neurotransmitters, causing effects of vasodilation, inflammation, or hyperseborrhea. [4]. Moreover, the brain-skin axis involves the immune system through cytokines, pro-inflammatory markers and neuroinflammation modulation [5].

The link between the skin and the brain is of paramount importance and has far-reaching implications for in and out-wellness.

• The psychological implications of dealing with a skin disease can significantly affect one’s quality of life and lead to anxiety about one’s social appearance.​They are not only enduring physical discomfort but also struggle with the psychological effects of failing to meet unrealistic image standards, leading to issues like low self-esteem, negative self-perception, and potentially, anxiety disorder.​
• At the same time, stress triggers a chemical response in the body that can make the skin more sensitive and reactive, exacerbating skin conditions. Psychological stress can disrupt the epidermal barrier and prolong its repair. This can lead to a variety of skin problems. [6-7]

This brings to light the interrelationship between the gut, the brain and the skin:

Through the gut-brain-skin axis, probiotics may improve skin conditions by acting on:

• Gut barrier integrity
• Immunomodulation
• Stress resiliency

Cerebiome® has demonstrated benefits in stress and skin appearance in a proof-of-concept study [8].

[1] Mahmud, Md Rayhan et al. “Impact of gut microbiome on skin health: gut-skin axis observed through the lenses of therapeutics and skin diseases.” Gut microbes vol. 14,1 (2022): 2096995.
[2] JEONG, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2016, vol. 56, no 14, p. 2331-2337.
[3] Bowe W, Patel NB, Logan AC. Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis: from anecdote to translational medicine. Benef Microbes. 2014 Jun 1;5(2):185-99.
[4] Chen G, Chen ZM, Fan XY, Jin YL, Li X, Wu SR, Ge WW, Lv CH, Wang YK, Chen JG. Gut-Brain-Skin Axis in Psoriasis: A Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021 Feb;11(1):25-38.
[5] Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging – PMC
[6] Hughes O, Hutchings PB, Phelps C. Stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women living with skin conditions: A mixed methods analysis. Skin Health Dis. 2021 Nov 15;2(4):e73.
[7] Stress may be getting to your skin, but it’s not a one-way street – Harvard Health
[8] Kassem et al. (2025). A subjective evaluation of the effects of a probiotic formulation on skin quality in young women: open label proof-of-concept study. International journal of probiotics and prebiotics. International Journal of Probiotics & Prebiotics. NCHP. Vol. 20