Skin Ageing

Inflammageing reaches the skin too

Skin ageing is driven partly by "inflammageing," the low-grade, chronic inflammation that tends to increase with age throughout the body. Age-related shifts in gut bacteria, including reduced diversity and increased intestinal permeability, are thought to contribute to this inflammation, adding to the oxidative stress that breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin over time.

A specific strain tested directly against wrinkles

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave 110 people aged 41 to 59 with dry skin and visible wrinkles either the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. By week 12, the probiotic group showed significantly reduced wrinkle depth and skin water loss compared with placebo, and skin elasticity improved from 13.17% at week 4 to 21.73% by week 12, a meaningfully growing effect rather than a one-off change.

Source: Review of the microbiome in skin aging and the effect of a topical prebiotic containing thermal spring water

A gut-derived compound that protects skin directly

Separate research has focused on urolithin A, a compound gut bacteria produce specifically from ellagitannins, found in foods like pomegranate and walnuts. This gut-derived compound has been shown to improve mitochondrial health in skin cells and reduce age-associated inflammation, giving a specific, plausible mechanism for how a well-fed gut microbiome could support skin ageing beyond general antioxidant effects.

As with any probiotic, a strain like the one in the wrinkle trial above only keeps working if it's properly fed. Taking a probiotic without also supplying fibre and plant compounds gives it far less chance of establishing itself well enough to keep producing a meaningful effect over months of use.

What this means for you

Sun protection, not smoking, and adequate sleep remain the most well-established ways to slow visible skin ageing, and no supplement replaces these basics. Given the genuine randomised trial evidence above, a specific, well-studied probiotic strain is a reasonable addition for anyone interested in supporting skin elasticity and hydration from the inside, alongside standard skincare. A varied, plant-rich diet, including foods that feed the gut bacteria capable of producing compounds like urolithin A, supports the same processes this research ties to slower visible skin ageing. That's the same idea behind GutLab, everyday gut health starts with regularly feeding the microbiome a broad range of plant-rich ingredients.