Why your skin microbiome counts:
The science:
Across the internet, biohacking– the practice of making small, science-based changes to your body and lifestyle to improve your general health–has now become the ultimate buzzword in discussions of optimising gut health. Yet the science-backed process and symptom-managed approach deliver excellent results. This holds special relevance in the bidirectional “gut-skin axis,” which describes the two-way relationship between gut health and skin health, forming a vital pathway that links your digestive health to your immune responses and skin microbiome– the ecosystem of your gut bacteria.
Building on this connection, studies show that biohacking the gut-skin axis reduces the risk of metabolic disorders that trigger nutrient malabsorption, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. And poor gut health is also the primary cause of chronic skin conditions and premature ageing.
In the same way, gut health and anti-wrinkle treatments also work in tandem. Your skin’s health, including barrier function, collagen levels, and elasticity, is also vital, as it forms the foundation for enjoying enhanced, longer-lasting results.
Acute and Chronic Inflammation:
To better understand how your skin behaves and responds to treatments, it’s important to recognise how systemic inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, and the skin microbiome are all interconnected. This internal perspective lays the groundwork for understanding the process.
Let’s start by distinguishing the two functions of good and bad inflammation and how each influences your body’s immune response to infections, toxins, or injuries. This is especially important to understand how your skin may respond to skin-rejuvenation procedures.
Dr Robert H. Shmerling, renowned Senior Faculty Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, explains that many people believe inflammation in the body is a generic, destructive term that we must completely eradicate. In his article on the nuances of inflammation, Dr Shmerling illustrates when the condition “simply does its job” and when it harms the immune system by attacking healthy cells.
So, what are these differences?
- Acute inflammation, or “good inflammation,” is a protective, short-term response in the healing process. For example, with any anti-wrinkle treatment, acute inflammation may present as a mild, localised response to a needle puncture at the injection site, resolving within 24-48 hours.
- By contrast, chronic inflammation, or “bad inflammation,” is the silent juggernaut behind chronic disease and accelerated ageing. As low-grade inflammation develops over time, the drawn-out progression eventually compromises our immune response, collagen production, and cellular repair.
Gut pathway and function:
Intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut,” drives chronic inflammation. Because over 70% of immune cells reside in the gut lining, this connection underscores the essential role of gut health in the bidirectional gut-skin axis.
Let’s start with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, a continuous muscular tube and core component of the digestive system that processes food, absorbs essential nutrients into the bloodstream, and expels waste from the body.
The tube divides into upper and lower tracts and is supported by three adjacent organs: the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Together, these organs produce and store bile to aid fat digestion. They also secrete enzymes that break down starches, fats, and sugars.
Then there’s the state of our “gut health,” a complex ecosystem of microbiomes—communities of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi—that comprises trillions of microorganisms. These microbes, primarily bacteria, concentrate in the gastrointestinal tract and regulate the immune system, thereby determining how your gut and metabolism function.
When we compromise the microbiome, harmful bacteria and inflammatory molecules—such as cytokines, which are small proteins that help cells communicate during immune responses—can cross the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream. Your skin, the body’s largest organ and a natural shield against toxins, then visibly reveals the gut’s permeable state.
The effects:
You often spot an imbalanced microbiome in the form of discolouration, dryness, burning, itching, and blemishes on your skin. If you leave the condition untreated, your skin inflammation worsens over time. The most common skin conditions linked to a breakdown in the gut-skin axis include rosacea, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and hives.
Patients with skin inflammation will likely experience minor swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection site.
For this reason, it is important to address the root cause of skin inflammation, because good skin health underpins any anti-wrinkle treatment.
In an acute case, do not proceed with anti-wrinkle injectables until you address microbiome imbalances and pro-inflammatory response cycles. However, biohacking your gut-skin axis under strict medical supervision can effectively reduce systemic inflammation and help manage, or even prevent, future flare-ups.
Cortisol:
Another disruptor of the intestinal barrier and microbiome is cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, which triggers a vicious and systemic chain reaction in the gut-brain axis. In fact, excess cortisol ranks among the most prevalent and damaging hormones affecting our overall health.
Known as the ‘little brain” in your gut, the two-way network connects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract. This connection occurs through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways.
When cortisol spikes, it disrupts the gut microbiome and reduces blood flow to the digestive tract, which increases intestinal permeability. The leaky gut then sends inflammatory signals back to the brain, triggers additional stress hormones, and over-activates the immune response. In turn, the malfunction causes the body to attack its own cells and primary tissues, invariably leading to chronic inflammation.
The springboard:
Reset and repair your digestive tract’s complex ecosystem and function by implementing any biohacking techniques your health professional recommends based on your lifestyle and medical history.
Biotechnology, which uses technology to monitor or support biological processes, and data-driven diagnostics can also be adapted to your goals.
Some lifestyle adaptations could include:
- Intermittent fasting and supplementation, especially for NAD+ levels and mitochondrial function, help reduce inflammation by removing toxins and cellular debris. These processes also trigger autophagy, the body’s way of recycling damaged cells to regenerate new, healthy ones within 72 hours.
- At the forefront is the tweaking or customising of targeted nutrition. This may include adding Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Prebiotic Fibres (food for beneficial gut bacteria), Probiotics (live beneficial bacteria), Polyphenols (antioxidant compounds in plants), Carotenoids (plant pigments with antioxidant properties), and Antioxidant food groups to your diet.
- By contrast, regenerative treatments such as microneedling use tiny needles to boost collagen and trigger elastin production. Other targeted therapies include low-level laser light treatments that improve skin barrier function by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and non-ablative fractional lasers that trigger the body’s natural healing process, stimulating collagen production and cellular renewal.
These therapies also stimulate mitochondrial activity, the process by which cells produce energy.
In fact, our mitochondria act like a cell’s generator, providing 90% of the biochemical energy our bodies need. This energy supports every aspect of cellular, physical, and cognitive performance.
Other methods:
Perhaps the easiest and most pleasant practices are to enjoy early-morning light exposure or red light at sunset, and aim for consistent, high-quality sleep patterns. You could also try a minute of cold exposure in the shower, along with precise breathwork. Regular red-light therapy and saunas also help. Most importantly, minimise exposure to blue light to protect your circadian rhythm and metabolic health.
Ultimately, the most effective biohacking practice is to combine intermittent fasting and a ketogenic diet, which is high in good fats and very low in carbohydrates. By altering your metabolism, these approaches, together, balance the gut microbiome, improve immunity, and reduce inflammation.
Anti-wrinkle treatments:
It is vital that with any anti-wrinkle treatment, you have a qualified injector to minimise the risk of facial injury or infections. However, most reactions to an anti-wrinkle treatment are usually minor and subside within 24-48 hours.
After your treatment, you can minimise any swelling by using a cold compress. Also, limit strenuous activity for 24 hours. To minimise bruising, ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Avoid taking blood thinners (e.g. Aspirin) or anti-inflammatory tablets for up to three days before your appointment.
I will assess your skin and consult with you about any health issues before proceeding with an anti-wrinkle treatment. Blogs:
Please read my blog on anti-wrinkle procedures and visit the site each month for more information on good living and the latest developments in TGA-approved anti-wrinkle treatments and cosmeceuticals.
Also listen to “The Skin and The Gut” podcast produced by the Skin Health Institute, based in Victoria.
Please refer to my clinic hours and text me to request an appointment. I look forward to assisting you.
Dr John.
Dr John Madirazza, Director of Sheer Rejuvenation
References:
Yusri, K., Jose, S., Vermeulen, K. S., Tan, T. C. M., & Sorrentino, V. (2025). The role of NAD+ metabolism and its modulation of mitochondria in aging and disease. npj metabolic health and disease, 3(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00067-0
Shmerling, R. H., Dr (2020, April 10). Understanding acute and chronic inflammation. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved May 18, 2026, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/understanding-acute-and-chronic-inflammation
C Taylor, T. J., Dr (n.d.). The gut microbiome in skin disease. DermNetNZ. Retrieved May 17, 2026, from https://dermnetnz.org/topics/the-gut-microbiome-in-skin-disease
Listen to the Podcast.
Carabotti , M., Scirocco, S., Maselli, M. A., & Severi, C. The gut-brain axis: Interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems (2nd ed.). PMC PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4367209/
Crantock, L., Dr, Chong, A., A/Prof, & Yengar, L., Dr (2021, June 10). The Skin and The Gut. Skin Health Institute. Retrieved May 17, 2026, from https://skinhealthinstitute.org.au/spot-diagnosis/the-skin-and-the-gut/
