25/03/2026
Does a “leaky” gut = a “leaky” and inflamed skin barrier? The science suggests YES!
If you have an inflammatory skin condition, struggle with dry, sensitive and reactive skin. Or maybe you just want to feel radiant and keep your largest organ healthy. Keep reading!
Your gut and your skin are deeply connected through something called the gut–skin axis. This means what’s happening inside your gut can directly influence how your skin looks, feels, and functions.
When your gut is healthy, it helps regulate your immune system, reduce inflammation, and support a strong, resilient skin barrier. But when things become imbalanced, this is where issues can start to show up on the skin. Most of you have probably experienced this at some point in your life?
From acne, to atopic dermatitis, rosacea, perioral dermatitis and psoriasis. Sometimes it may be a diagnosable condition that fits into a box. Sometimes you just know your skin is not happy!
One of the key drivers is gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria). When beneficial bacteria are low and inflammatory microbes are higher, this can trigger immune activation and increase inflammation throughout the body, including the skin.
Another important piece is gut permeability, often referred to as a “leaky gut.” This is when the gut barrier becomes more permeable than it should be, allowing endotoxins like LPS, toxicants, bacteria, and inflammatory molecules to pass into the bloodstream.
This can lead to systemic inflammation, which doesn’t just stay in the gut, it can impact the skin by:
Disrupting the skin barrier, keratinocyte differentiation and keratinisation
Increasing sensitivity and reactivity
Contributing to conditions like acne, eczema, POD, and rosacea
This is where the idea of a “leaky gut = leaky skin” comes from. When internal barriers are compromised, external barriers often reflect this.
There’s also another layer: your gut bacteria produce beneficial compounds (like short-chain fatty acids) that actually help strengthen the skin barrier and reduce inflammation. So when gut health is compromised, there is increased inflammation, plus a decrease in important protective signals.