40 to 50 Americans experience constant irritation and insecurity from acne, and many have a hard time finding ways to deal with flare-ups and breakouts. Fortunately, there may be a solution on the horizon, and it’s coming from an unexpected place.

More and more dermatologists are recommending traditional acne therapy methods combined with daily doses of probiotics.

Probiotics help restore the balance of bacteria in the body. Research is finding them increasingly useful in treating a variety of ailments, including poor oral health and digestion. New evidence is even accumulating that shows that probiotics may also help with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and of course, acne.

Probiotic treatment builds on the theory that acne is linked to an excess of unhealthy bacteria in the gut brought on by high stress and poor diets, factors which can slow down digestion.

In theory, introducing healthy bacteria in the form of consumed probiotics can re-seal the lining of a patient’s gut and cut down on the system-wide inflammation that many believe contributes to flare ups in rosacea and acne.

The research is still in it’s early stages. However, it already looks like some topical probiotics can protect and soothe skin by destroying harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses and replacing them with a more balanced personal ecosystem. Some patients have even experimented with homemade facial cleansing masks made of kefir and yogurt, with some degree of success.

However, many doctors are still hesitant to get on the probiotic bandwagon until more data comes in. Studies have yet to fully establish which products are really useful and effective and how often they should be applied. There’s also more room to research the difference between topical and oral probiotics.

Until this data is made widely available, doctors advise consulting with dermatologists and physicians before integrating probiotics into a diet or skin care routine.