Inside-out Skincare

The gut and skin are connected through shared metabolic, immune and microbial pathways. When the gut microbiome becomes imbalanced, it can heighten systemic inflammation, worsening visible concerns such as acne, eczema, excess oil, redness and slow healing. Likewise, when the skin barrier is compromised, this can influence gut immune tolerance and increase reactivity to foods or environmental triggers. Rather than operating separately, gut and skin act as interacting ecosystems that influence each other’s stability.

What we know:

Evidence shows that gut–skin interactions are measurable and biologically meaningful:

•      Gut dysbiosis correlates with inflammatory skin conditions and slower recovery trajectories, meaning people with disrupted gut microbiota often experience more persistent or recurring flare-ups (Thye et al, 2022).  

•      Probiotics can help the skin, but not everyone responds in the same way (Mahmud et al, 2022).

•      Compounds produced in the gut can impact the skin’s oil levels, moisture, inflammation and repair processes (Jimenez-Sanchez, et al, 2025).

Industry impact and potential:

Understanding the gut–skin connection gives brands an opportunity to move beyond surface-only products and address internal factors that influence skin balance. This enables more integrated inside–out solutions, rather than isolated topical treatments.

This creates new possibilities such as:

•      Paired ingestible-and-topical routines where supplements complement barrier-supportive skincare

•      Bioactives that target internal flare triggers, such as probiotics or postbiotics used alongside barrier supportive skincare. 

•      Timed product cycles for specific skin stages, including barrier reset, seasonal dryness support, or dedicated acne management stages.

Our solution:

Sequential enables brands to understand the gut-skin connection through real-world testing. Using cutting edge research techniques, we can track how changes in gut microbial composition translate into measurable shifts in skin outcomes. Using our global database of over 50,000 microbiome profiles, we are able to explore who responds, who doesn’t, and why. This insight sets a new standard for microbiome-informed skincare, moving beyond surface-only approaches and toward solutions grounded in the biology of the whole system.

References

Jimenez-Sanchez, M., et al. (2025) The gut-skin axis: a bi-directional, microbiota-driven relationship with therapeutic potential. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2473524

Mahmud , M. R., et al. (2022) Impact of gut microbiome on skin health: gut-skin axis observed through the lenses of therapeutics and skin diseases. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2022.2096995

Thye, A. Y-K., et al. (2022) Gut–Skin Axis: Unravelling the Connection between the Gut Microbiome and Psoriasis. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051037