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
RosieC says
Thank you guys for all your posts… I’ve recently started taking probiotics for better digestive health and all of a sudden I have pimples all over my face… I have been so upset, since my face had been pretty clear and thought it was the probiotics… Does anyone know how long it takes for this stuff to leave your system? I only took it for a week.. Stopped bcause not only did I get acne, I’ve also been nauseous and have stomach aches,
Thanks 🙂
Estella says
So here’s my story:
For about 4 years now, I’ve been suffering from various forms of acne on my chin (the worst!), forehead, cheeks, and back.
Over a month ago, I decided to cut out milk and milk products. I also started to observe my body – if I added something to my dietary routine and then started to break out – I eliminated it and my skin would go back to normal within 2 days (in the worst of cases, because it usually got better within hours). I discovered that apart from milk I also cannot eat eggs (they contain angrogens which I’m sensitive to, the same as milk) and soy products but in general, it was over a month of beautiful, clear skin with occasional little spots – nothing I cannot deal with. My acne just disappeared and my skin finally started to clear up – without any worsening, it-gets-worse-before-it-gets-better or inflamatory states, if I may add. The whiteheads just dried out and the blackheads started to come out on their own. THIS is what the true clearing-up looks like and THIS is why I am not going to believe that break-outs occur because the body is getting rid of toxins. Not in my case. Or else by toxins you mean dairy or probiotics.
Anyway, after about a month, some digestive problems started – I blamed the lack of milk in my diet and maybe some kind of probiotics deficiency. So I added them to my routine, taking care that they don’t contain any milk. In the beginning my skin improved but then I started having breakouts: back, chin, cheeks, forehead respectively. In addition, I broke out on nose, arms and neck – may I add that I never EVER had acne in those areas? AND my skin got itchy all over.
I started to look for information on probiotics causing break-outs and here I am. Anyway – I confirm, it is possible to break out after probiotics.
Alex says
A few weeks ago I started taking probiotics recommended by a friend for immune support and digestion. Maybe a week or less later, I started breaking out in a rash along my belt line. I racked my brain about what it could be. Something made me think of the probiotics but I too found no info online about it being a common side effect or anyone else experiencing it. I had heard it could be my body releasing toxins so after concluding it must be that, decided to stick it out and tough through it. Now it’s all along my belt line, chest and my whole body is inches and is sensitive. The idea of it clearing out my toxins is appealing but the rash covering my body in the summer is not. I’m 2 days off now and my itching has deminished a bit. You’re the only post I’ve seen online of anyone being seriously effected by them. I’m over it tho. Ill stick to my kombucha. Thanks for posting.
nazia says
I’ve had the exact same problem! it’s on my lower back and all over my tummy and chest!!! I can’t believe it could be the probiotics! Hope you’re feeling better now. 🙂
Missy says
i started taking probiotics pill form.i thought all was great till about on the 5th day i started waking up with painful, really painful acne.i havn’nt had bad acne like this since i was a teen.i stopped taking for 2 weeks and my skin cleared.i decided to start again and same result. dissapointed, but the pain and marks i can do without.
Lisa says
I started taking dairy free probiotics only for less than a week and noticed pretty quickly some strange cystic pimples on my cheeks and chin and little bumps under my skin. I watch what i eat, avoid dairy and sugar and actually had a pretty clear skin the week before. Although it did help combat the effects of some antibiotics I was on, I decided to stop them and only use it for emergency purposes if I need antibiotics in the future. For some reason it feels like it’s interacting with my hormones and sensitivity of my skin. Regardless I use the basic test. What was I doing before and what did my skin look like. What key change did I make within the last week and the only thing is the probiotics so I guess it’s bye for now! I appreciate all your previous comments, it makes sense why my skin suddenly went a bit mental! Lol
Chris Florky says
Just 2 days ago I began to think that perhaps probiotics were making my skin break out. After all, I’m 65 and this shouldn’t be happening! It’s been happening for almost 2 years and the ONLY time it didn’t break out was when I had an abcessed tooth pulled and I was on antibiotics, and that will be 2 years this November. My skin stayed perfectly clear for 3 weeks while I was on them and w/in 24 hours of stopping them (when they’d run their course), I was breaking out again. Not willing to take antibiotics daily and screw up my system, I was putting up with it. Then I though about 3 days ago: what if it is the probiotics I’ve been taking? After all PRO-biotics is the opposite of ANTI-biotics! That’s when I went hunting and found your comments here. Thank you! It may confirm what I have suspected. Time will tell; it’s been only 3 days, but so far so good 🙂
Chelsea says
A little late adding to this post, but if I can somehow help another person than it’s still worth my time to share my experience. Throughout my teenage years and early 20’s I’ve been on and off birth control at least a half dozen times. I never really reacted well to the pill but obviously like the benefit of not having to worry about becoming pregnant. My skin is always been decent and never really got any worse from taking birth control but never really completely clear either. Recently I had started birth control again and got a yeast infection which I had only had one in my life. After starting my second pack of pills I got another yeast infection decided to start taking probiotics to help prevent anymore of them. After realizing that the new birth control was what was causing the yeast infections I switched brands and continued taking the probiotics. After one month of the new birth control, no yeast infections (thank god), but decided that I didn’t want to be on them at all anymore so I stopped taking them altogether. Not thinking anything of it, I continued to take the probiotics because I figured they would somehow benefit me. Ever since starting the probiotics my skin has been awful. New pimples daily, and in places I had never gotten them before like my jawline and even some on my neck. I tried new face washes, taking evening primrose oil pills, biotin…and nothing has worked. Finally I decided to search online if probiotics can cause acne and stumbled upon this post. I’m convinced I’ve had the same reaction to the probiotics because my skin started acting up at pretty much the same time I started taking them. As of tomorrow I’m not going to be taking them anymore and I’m pretty sure my skin problems will subside.
Nikle says
I know this thread is old but….Same thing happens to me. Ever since I started taking probiotics (for other problems) almost 5 years ago I’ve had the most horrible acne around my chin. I am now taking antibiotics, using a topical gel, and drinking green tea. It is better but whenever I decide to take a probiotic my acne flares up horribly. I have tried numerous strains of pribiotics (even the dairy free ones) but it always screws up my face. I feel your pain!
Pam says
This is exactly what happens to me when I take a probiotic. I was searching the web to see if there were any others out there with the same problem. That’s how I found your website. Thank you for sharing, and now I know it’s not just me. I get horrible, painful cystic acne from probiotics around my mouth and jawline as well. I have to go off of them for my skin to heal. This is so frustrating because the probiotics help me so much with my digestive issues.
nazia says
Hi, I was trying to detox and after 2 weeks, i’ve started to get these rashes and blotches all over my skin! i couldn’t ever have thought that it could be the yogurt or the probiotics. I kind of thought it would be the fish oil and the b complex i was taking. but thank God i’ve stopped the probiotics too. And from one comment, I can tell that yogurt could be the culprit of my condition too! 🙁 . I think we should be very careful when trying to detox. Adding one thing at a time and seeing the results would be the ideal thing to do!
Ace says
I started taking probiotics less than two weeks ago and my skin has broken out like crazy. Not cystic, but small bumps all over my face (esp along the jaw line and chin) and my chest and shoulders, upper back, and neck. My skin is so irritated. I have similar breakouts when I eat yogurt. Just sayin – I think I’m with you and probiotics are not for me. Sad I wasted $13 on this… :/
Leesa says
I too have problems with probiotics causing cystic acne! I started drinking Kombucha for digestive purposes because it has probiotics in it. I cannot eat yogurt because am sensitive to dairy and also binders and capsule covers on other probiotics…which I previously thought was breaking me out. But, after reading your comments I’m convinced I cannot do anything with probiotics in them. Thanks for helping verify my concern!
Aundria says
It has totally cause me to break out. I did the same thing as you. I noticed the break out and never had break outs before. So I stop taking them and my face cleared up but left ugly marks….
Samantha says
I just stated taking probiotics about 5 days ago and within 2 days my face was filled with big red zits. And for me 1-2 the week before my period is normal. I started freaking out. I look like a pubescent teen and even as a teen I never came close to this. I was frantic to figure out what it could be and then it dawned on me what I had changed. Probiotics. I am heartbroken right now, because I refuse to leave my house until it is under control. Of course, I won’t be taking anymore, that’s for sure! Thank you for writing this so I don’t feel completely alone. It’s horrible.
Brandy says
i took align for several weeks and it worked great, i switched to a better brand from a health food store with more active cultures thinking would get even better results, I have ibs and crohns disease, I did get better results but i also got acne on the edges of my forehead and on my chin and jaw line. I am also wondering if this can cause an overgrowth of bacterial growth. THe opposite of a yeast infection. I dont suffer from it, but wouldn’t it make sense? anti biotics cause not enough bacteria couldn’t this cause too much and not enough yeast?
julia m says
Ive been getting the same damn thing !! Yes ive had acne for years but after healing my gut, they cant blame it on lack of bowel movements now.
I take the synbiotic kit by progressive, it has human strains and very strong to implant all good bacteria in your system, also containing a prebiotic. ive gotten my hormones tested and everything is always in good range. but the BREAKOUTS ARE CRAZY . cystic chin acne, jawline, and a bit of cheek. its just horrible but since theyre so expensive and are helping my insides, i want to just finish the round. BUT YOU ARENT THE ONLY ONE ! i am sugar free, dairy free, and gluten free, and very active, this is the only possible thing causing the bad cystic ones !!
i wonder what the probiotics do in your body to be causing this!??
theyre supposed to be the best thing for you ! crazy
Mia says
I gave my son some baby probiotic (he’s 1) in the morning and on that day at around lunch time he started having some crazy rashes – swelling on his eyes, raised bump on his neck, arms, and face. And he’s not allergic to anything. I couldn’t work out what it was, cause he had the same probiotic before. The bumps etc dissipated by the end of the day though. Two days later , same thing happened and I remembered I gave him the probiotic as well on that day, but still wasn’t sure. Two weeks later again! All after I gave him the probiotic. And the last time I gave him I wanted to test whether it was really the probiotic, and indeed the rashes appeared again. So yeah, probiotic can cause allergic reaction.
Carol says
I took Keybiotics after much research as to the best fit. I experienced horrible acme. I had never had acme before. Unfortunately I felt better taking the keybiotics; however, am stopping for I figure the acme will cause havoc on my self esteem.
Stewart says
Hey glad I found this wee site! every time I drink a yakult I get these massive hard cystic spots along my jawline. Couldn’t believe it was the Yakult until i found this, stayed clear of them now and low n behold my skin had cleared up. They are the worst kind of spots and really depressing when they show up. I’m also gluten sensitive and being a food lover this has been nothing short of the most stressful thing I have ever had to put up with. Thanks for these posts, they’v helped me a lot.
Laurie Lynn says
I am so glad I found this site! I started breaking out on my forehead about 2 weeks ago – like a teenager. The only thing I could think of that was different was the probiotics I started taking. At first it didn’t dawn on me that this was the cause because previously I had taken the “Pearl” probiotic and had no problems. This time I bought a Kroger brand probiotic. I stopped taking it just this morning and we’ll see if it starts clearing up. Yikes.
Laurie Lynn says
Yes, within a couple days my face was cleared up. It was definitely the probiotic.