Last week, I talked about how what we eat and how our internal plumbing affects our skin. A couple of you mentioned taking probiotics and how you derived benefits from it.
Well, when I was doing my personal research, I found that probiotics is definitely helpful for helping with digestion and bowel movement. What it is, is billions of beneficial bacteria introduced into your gut via a capsule or a yogurt or yogurt drink or even a drink like Yakult or Vitagen (I happen to love drinking the latter 2 as a kid, nevermind the sweetness. It was such a treat!)
The purpose behind probiotics is to introduce more good bacteria to balance out the bad bacteria in your gut. It is being touted as a new health thing and like all health things, there will naturally be pros and cons. If you look out there though, the pros outweigh the cons of taking probiotics by about a million to one. Probiotics is even said to be able to help people who have skin problems, allergies or acne.
Well, guess who discovered a small side effect of taking probiotics that isn’t quite as inspiring as all that? 😛
Yours truly actually had acne after taking probiotics. Yep. It defies imagination doesn’t it? Here is this capsule of all these supposedly good bacteria that’s supposed to help with digestive problems, clear up internal plumbing and maybe even help with clearing up acne on skin.
What I experienced was otherwise. I was having some spots. This was during the time before I decided to do anything to my diet. It was highly irritating. I was then suggested to try some probiotics. Everyone in my family was taking it and everyone was raving about how regular it made them. That was the primary reason for taking the probiotics I might add.
So I started taking it once a day. After about a week, I started to realize that my skin, which was bad before, was now stark raving NUTS! I was having huge, painful cystic acne on my chin and honestly, after not having such bad skin for such a long time, it was a downer. It wasn’t hormones, I might add. It wasn’t close to that time of the month when hormones go nuts, and I haven’t had hormonal acne for a while now.
I don’t know what made me think about the probiotics I was taking. One morning, I woke up and thought “I wonder if its the probiotics?” Perhaps it was some instinct so I stopped it. Within 2 weeks, I started to notice a difference to my skin. Coupled with my lifestyle and diet change, I found my skin was healing itself, with no lasting damage. Was it the probiotics then? Could it actually cause me to have acne?
I looked for information online but there was little to no information. Most people said it HELPED their acne problem. It was on a few little known forums where I found one or two people who mentioned the same things I experienced. Within a couple of days of taking probiotics, they erupted with acne along the chin and jaw line. After stopping, the breakouts stopped. Most people shot that theory down and told them to stick it out but I personally felt there was something there. I wasn’t going to stick it out, no matter what anyone said.
I’d gotten my problem under control by this time. Barring the regular random blackheads my skin was back to normal. So, I decided to experiment. I popped a probiotic capsule just last week in the morning. By evening, there was a painful hard spot forming on my chin. By the next morning, it was a full blown painful cystic acne spot. I wasn’t waiting around to see what happened if I popped another capsule!
So, going from my personal experience with probiotics, I’m going to stick my head out and say that yes, in some very rare cases (like mine) probiotics can cause you more harm to your skin than good. Probiotics can, in my case, cause you to break out and have acne problems where you had none before, or even make your problem worse.
I’ve stopped taking probiotics and am now treating the spot with the Nexcare patch which is helping to bring down the swelling and reduce the painful spot. Once it flattens out or comes to a head, I’ll go with tea tree oil and then perhaps a whitening spot corrector to get rid of the mark and hydration to get my skin back to normal.
Its a horrible process and if you ask me, I think this an awful way to discover that probiotics isn’t for me. I might add that it could also be the strain of bacteria used in this particular brand (it all looks like the normal stuff in most probiotics supplements though). Not being medically or pharmaceutically trained, I can’t tell. The only thing I will say is that I’m quite safely NOT going near anymore probiotic supplements from now on.
If anyone has shared a similar experience as I have, I hope you could share it. Perhaps you had a good experience with taking probiotics. Share it too! 🙂
Paris B
Donna says
I have been taking yakult with my antibiotics thinking I was doing a good thing for my gut. My face especially around my nose and above my top lip have been a disaster. Can’t thank you enough for this article. Whew. I am 56 and going through the acne crisis at this age is ridiculous and the time I have spent using cover up can be much better spent.
rure says
I thought I was crazy but this is very close to what I experienced as well. My first go at probiotices I took for maybe a week and it took a month to clear my skin up. Then about a year later I decided to try a different brand and just after taking for two days my skin was a mess for two weeks. I’m not one that suffer’s from severe acne but it was awful I just wanted to hide and it was mainly along my jawline and chin as well. I’m so glad I read this and I’ll be skipping the probiotics as well.
Pia says
I am SO happy I stumbled upon this forum/blog. I too have been experiencing INSANE cystic acne on my chin and I eat very healthy and I am very active. It was inexplicable. I had a severe break out last week that was completely out of the norm and I had no idea what was causing it. To give you an idea of what I was on previously, I was taking 1300mg of Evening Primrose (2 capsules), 100 Billion CFU’s of Probiotic from GNC and a multi-vitamin from Whole Foods. I noticed that my cystic acne on my chin was getting progressively worse as time went on and then an eruption occurred last week that was out of this world. Not only did I break out on my chin, I broke out into tiny colorless bumps on the back of my arms and shoulders. Coming across this blog really made me realize that it’s very possible that I was doing more harm than good. I stopped taking the Primrose and probiotic and I’m just sticking to the multi-vitamin. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Tracey says
At the age of 47, I finally healed my acne using Exposed Skin Care – everything else from the age of 24 either didn’t work or only worked for a year or two – including RoAccutane as it was called back then. Recently I started drinking Kombucha as I was told that it is really good for us. But back came the acne in full force. So I stopped drinking it – my skin healed up and then I tried drinking again and back they came, causing the usual scarring…so yes…if you react stay away – don’t listen to the people who say it will settle as mine didn’t over 3 months – the usual period I try things for. Oh and try Exposed Skin Care – inexpensive (around $150 Australian dollars including delivery for 9 products and lasts up to a year). I don’t get anything from them by recommending, I just want people to get the relief I did. I am back using Exposed (I stopped after it all healed up and didn’t have to use it for 3 years) and have stopped any probiotic. My skin is clearing up again.
Bigheadgirl says
Kombucha made me break out too…this blog post is very accurate. I’m glad somebody brought attention to this.
Bigheadgirl says
I’ve had bad skin for years and it was finally “cooling down.” Starting drinking Kombucha daily and broke out with HORRIBLE cystic acne for the first time in years, as well as having small bumps all over my face, neck and arms. Also gained weight in my stomach that I have to burn off in 10 days. No mas.
Dusti Herrera says
I’m so glad I found your article because I had the same problem it is horrible I just wonder if you keep taking it will it stop
Chelsea says
Same thing happens to me and like you, i took time off and then went back on probiotics and boom within one day i had small pimples on my nose. I should also asd here that i never break out ans am lucky to have very clear skin.
I have tje same problem with essential fatty acid supplements. Im thinking it must have something to to with my own body chemistry.. I am otherwise healthy and habe a good diet. Its very strange.. figured I’d share ?
Jimbo says
I’m way too old for this and I asked google if it was the probiotic I started taking a couple weeks ago. You are probably right because it seems to start deep beneath the skin. .
Tori says
Was just sitting here going through my mind on what I have changed recently to make my face start acting crazy..the only new thing in my life…probiotics. big awful large cystic acne. I look like I’ve developed a cool new disease and I’m not a fan…so I decided to Google and here I am…definitely stopping those..
Tori says
Also..i wonder if it’s one of those things that have to get worse before getting better. I’m not sticking around with it at this point though!
Taylor says
I had this happen to me too. I quit once I realized it was the probiotics but wish I had stuck with it. I’ve since learned that it could be because of a disruption in your intestines and it’s just your body trying to get rid of the nasty bacteria and sticking it out will probably resolve symptoms once all the gross stuff is out. I haven’t tried though because admittedly I don’t really feel like dealing with broken out skin for a month plus ?
shirley gifft says
i am having a bad reaction to probiotics now, it’s horrible. bumps on my face, and they hurt.
i will not try them again.
Joanne says
Hi, I started getting what I believe is cystic acne (hard painful under the skin around my cheek near my ears and chin jawline) I kept thinking it was stress and I took the probiotics seemed to be working couldn’t figure out what it was but it seemed to have gotten a lot worse after taking it. I’m going to stop taking it and see what happens from now.
Hillarie Herbert says
Wow! This helped me tremendously. I loved your honesty. My mother is a vegan probiotic living hippie. Naturally, I have followed her way of life. She always stressed to me that I should be on probiotics. Might I add I have never once in my life struggled with skin issues let alone acne. After a month of taking this liquid probiotic my chin went on a rampage. I sympathize for anyone who has struggled with acne! I am going to stop taking it today and be back in a week with an update! I hope this works. Thank you again!
Katherine says
Has anyone tried the vegan probiotics? I get acne from dairy and recently tried a regular probiotic thinking it wasnt too much dairy in the capsules. No such luck. Big cyst pumple on my chin. Bought a vegan brand but a little nervous to try it out.
D.Turner says
My doctor recommended I take probiotics in conjunction with the antibiotics I was prescribed to help prevent a yeast infection. Within a few days I had numerous small pimples all over my jawline and neck area but I continued to take them for the week my prescription lasted. I normally have very clear skin and the only thing that had changed was taking the probiotics. I have stopped taking them since my prescription ran out, but I have a feeling it will take more than a week for my skin to return to normal.
VINET says
This is my second try at taking probiotics and I guess it’s safe to say it is not for me. Both times terrible breakouts my daughter is getting married in 2 weeks and now my skin is a mess.
Tina Maghoney says
I am so glad I found this article! I am experiencing some severe acne all over the chin area and last week I broke out in this week be nasty blistery rash under my armpit! It was so disgusting. I am on it keto diet so at first I thought it was that, also been having some crazy differences in my bowel movements. Borderline diarrhea and sorry for the gross description, but seems to be a lot. Also have a burning feeling in my chest and my back like a rash wants to come about. I have been taking bio cleanse and probiotics from plexus. I believe it’s time to stop.
Thank you for posting this article. It’s reassuring to know that I’m not alone and that my instinct is correct.
Kate says
I have the same problem and have had it for years despite being on a purifying diet. Interestingly enough when I take antifungals – which cause more ‘die off’ than probiotics – I don’t get it so it’s not just that the probiotics are ridding my body of toxins. However, and this is a big however, I have MS and so suspect my gut is not in the best of shape, particularly after a childhood of antibitoics. So maybe take prebiotics and antifungals and see how that goes… Good luck and let me know!
Jonathan Burks says
I started probiotics just for better overall health, no particular reason. I had zero acne problems for over a decade, since my teens, and about a week in they started popping up. I didn’t think it could be because of them so I continued taking them for a year and my acne on back and chest (not face) got REALLY bad.
Finally I decided probiotics weren’t doing much for me so I stopped taking them and my acne was 90% gone within a week! I still get a little now and then but never had a problem before taking probiotics.
I will also add I developed GERD really bad about a month in and it persists even until now. I can’t fully blame probiotics but the timing is convenient and I have never had any acid problems before.