The SIBO-Acne Connection

WHAT IS SIBO?

In case you haven’t heard of SIBO, it stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and it’s a relatively common condition, though it’s often underdiagnosed because its symptoms can overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerances, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

SIBO occurs when there is an abnormal increase in the number or type of bacteria in the small intestine, where bacteria typically should be in much lower numbers compared to the large intestine.

The excess bacteria can disrupt normal digestion and absorption of nutrients, causing symptoms like:

• Bloating

• Abdominal pain or discomfort

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Excessive gas or belching

• Fatigue

• Nausea

It is normally treated with antibiotics, dietary changes, or other approaches to restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut.

 

THE GUT-SKIN-CONNECTION

Around 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, meaning any imbalance can trigger inflammatory responses in your body, including on your skin. Particularly, if you have acne, it’s likely that you may also be experiencing imbalances with your gut—like SIBO. 

 

SIBO-RELATED ACNE

If you’ve been struggling with persistent acne that just won't seem to go away no matter how many products you try, you may be overlooking a hidden factor: your gut health. While acne is often linked to hormones, stress, and diet, there's growing evidence that SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) could be playing a significant role in your skin troubles.

A 2008 controlled study compared adults with acne to “healthy controls” finding a significantly higher prevalence of SIBO in those with acne. The SIBO positive patients were then treated for their overgrowth with traditional therapies and almost all of them experienced remission of acne.

HOW DOES SIBO CONTRIBUTE TO ACNE?

1. Inflammation and Immune Response: SIBO can lead to an increase in gut permeability, commonly known as “leaky gut.” This allows toxins and bacteria to pass into the bloodstream, triggering an inflammatory response. Inflammation is a major contributor to acne, as it can lead to blocked pores and overactive sebaceous glands, both of which cause acne breakouts.

2. Hormonal Imbalance: SIBO isn’t just an issue for your gut; it can also affect your hormones, which are often a culprit behind acne. Specifically, the overgrowth of bacteria in your gut can influence the estrobolome—the collection of gut bacteria responsible for processing estrogen. When this balance is disrupted, it can lead to elevated levels of estrogen or testosterone, both of which can contribute to acne. This is especially true for people with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), where hormonal imbalances already play a major role in skin flare-ups.

3. Biofilms and Antibiotics: Many people with acne are prescribed antibiotics to control bacterial overgrowth on the skin, but this can also have an indirect effect on SIBO. Biofilms are clusters of bacteria that create a protective layer around them, making it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. These biofilms can contribute to the persistence of SIBO. Additionally, while antibiotics can reduce acne in the short term, they may not address the underlying gut issues, leading to recurrence once treatment is stopped.

4. Poor Nutrient Absorption: SIBO can impair your body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals that are vital for skin health. Deficiencies in nutrients like zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D can worsen acne. When SIBO prevents your small intestine from properly absorbing these nutrients, it may further fuel skin issues.

5. Not Properly Digesting Food: SIBO makes it difficult to digest certain foods, particularly foods that are more allergenic and inflammatory like gluten, sugar, and dairy. Oftentimes when antibiotics and skin topicals don’t seem to be properly treating your acne, a dermatologist may suggest food allergies or sugar intake may be the culprit. In this case, it’s not necessarily the foods that are causing your acne, but more so the way your body is digesting them. 

 

HOW CAN TREATING SIBO HELP CLEAR ACNE?

There is evidence that suggests treating SIBO may improve skin health. By addressing the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, you may not only reduce digestive discomfort but also see improvements in your acne. 

• Probiotics and Diet: Some studies have shown that probiotics and a gut-friendly diet can help alleviate both SIBO and acne. Probiotics help restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut, which may reduce inflammation and improve skin health. Additionally, a diet low in fermentable carbohydrates (also known as the low FODMAP diet) may help reduce SIBO symptoms and improve acne by minimizing the bacterial fermentation process.

Some of my favorite natural probiotic suggestions are kimchi, plain yogurt, miso soup, kefir, fermented tea (pique tea). Every morning I eat a ½ cup of plain yogurt with my daughter and then about mid-morning I’ll have a cup of fermented black or green tea from Pique. These are FERMENTED teas from 250 year old tea trees. Pique uses an advanced fermentation process that not only brings out more antioxidants in the tea (to repair skin damage and promote longevity), but they actually have living pre and probiotics in every serving! It’s like drinking kombucha without sugar! Having a daily cup of Pu’er Tea balances gut bacteria thereby reducing bloat, improving digestion and metabolism all while promoting radiant skin! These teas use Cold Extraction Technology to bring out pure, potent phytonutrients the skin needs for healthy cell turnover.

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• Addressing the Root Cause: Since SIBO is often a result of underlying issues like impaired motility or structural abnormalities in the gut, addressing these causes directly can help resolve both digestive issues and acne. Lifestyle changes like stress management, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet can all improve gut health and, consequently, skin health.

 

HOW KILLING SURFACE BACTERIA CAN HELP CLEAR ACNE:

Killing the surface bacteria on your skin, in tandem with treating intestinal bacterial overgrowth, will help treat acne. Here's a breakdown of how this works:

Reduces Inflammation: By reducing the number of bacteria on the surface of your skin, you can decrease the inflammatory response, leading to fewer breakouts.

Preventing Pore Blockage: Acne can form when dead skin cells, excess oil, and bacteria clog pores. By killing the bacteria and reducing their numbers, you may prevent the infection that worsens acne lesions, like pustules or cysts.

 

TRY: Beauty Shamans Clear Glow Omega Oil

This is one of the most balancing skincare products for acne as it keeps the surface clean while helping the skin maintain hydration and moisture levels - something crucial for acneic skin. Clear Glow Omega Oil contains blemish-fighting essential oils (like tea tree, thyme, lavender, and rosemary) that inhibit bacterial growth on the skin. Unlike antibiotics, essential oils work with your own cellular intelligence to create a new environment (or skin flora) rather than wiping out all bacteria, which can actually cause more breakouts. The delivery system for the essential oils uses a blend of seaweed and sunflower carrier oils, which are rich in 3,6, and 9 omega fatty acids; this helps the skin maintain a balanced lipid barrier which prevents an overproduction of sebum to the surface of the skin, thereby reducing recurrent breakouts. 

 

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