Prebiotics - how do they help me?
I’m sure you’ve heard talk about prebiotics and how they help your body defend itself. Your skin also needs to harness these products which will aid the proliferation of beneficial microflora and selectively inhibit harmful elements.
Prebiotics are substances formulated in association with other trace elements of nutritional support or food supplements. They are usually administered orally and are absorbed through the digestive system. But what do you really know about how they can help your skin?
About prebiotics
Prebiotics are elements that are not metabolised by the body and which benefit your skin through the growth of bacteria on the skin surface. This proliferation helps your skin control damaging microorganisms and also boosts the elimination of harmful substances.
Their common feature is that they are not directly absorbed by the body. The most typical are non-digestible carbohydrates such as fructooligosaccharides, inulin and galacto-oligosaccharides.
What are their benefits for the skin?
The skin is colonised by bacterial flora that plays a very important role in its protection and barrier function. But not all flora is good for your skin. Some microorganisms aid superinfection and worsen skin diseases like acne, rosacea and psoriasis.
Prebiotics in our skin can:
- Boost the immune system.
- Aid the utilisation of minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
- Promote the synthesis of some vitamins.
What are they used for?
To provide balance to your skin
They make it possible to restore eubiotic bacterial flora, balance it and drive its beneficial effects for our skin. They can even help calm inflammation and regulate sebum, in addition to mattifying the skin and restoring the lipid barrier.
Strengthen the skin’s natural protection
They preserve the skin from external aggression and prevent against sebum build-up (acne), reducing cell damage and activating skin renewal. This produces a process of physiological regeneration and protects collagen fibres, helping prevent against wrinkles.
Where do I find them?
Food rich in prebiotics includes:
- Inulin: present in artichokes, wheat, oats, rye, bananas, onions, garlic and leeks.
- Fructooligosaccharides: found in asparagus, garlic, onion and leeks.
- Galacto-oligosaccharides: synthesised from lactose.
You’ll find these types of formulas in specific products which also contain other elements important for healthy skin. You can boost their effects by combining them properly:
- Improvement of blood circulation: elements like centella asiatica or Indian pennywort have anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous properties that help the skin of legs affected by venous insufficiency, for example.
- Capillary stimulation: keratin can tone up hair from the inside. This helps prevent hair loss in thin or fragile hair.
- Photoprotection: bioflavonoids and carotenoids prep your skin for the oxidation produced by direct exposure to the sun and prevent sun-associated premature aging.
- Skin hydration: glycosaminoglycans make your skin firmer and improve dryness.
Probiotics and prebiotics: are they the same thing?
Although almost equal they aren't the same thing. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can have health benefits when consumed in the right concentration. They are therefore bacteria or yeasts present in food, medicinal products and dietary supplements. The most commonly used probiotics are those that belong to spices and Bifidobacterium-Lactobacillus .
