Myths and Trends in Probiotics

With the literal translation being “for life,” probiotics are viable non-pathogenic microorganisms able to impart numerous health benefits. The introduction of the term probiotic is attributed to IIya Metchnikoff, who won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for his work in immunology along with Paul Erhlich in 1908. Today, use of probiotics inside and outside the body is at the forefront of health care.

Topical probiotics influence the skin’s microbiome, a collection of natural bacteria that live on the skin and help promote healthy skin cell function. In a nutshell, topical probiotics can help restore the balance of the skin, which can lead to visible reduction in redness and irritation and can also help the skin better resist free radical attack. This article will discuss the benefits of topical probiotics as well
as probiotic technologies on the horizon. First, however, it will dispell some myths surrounding topical probiotics.

Myth 1. All probiotics are the same.

Truth. The term probiotics refers to healthy bacteria. There are somewhere between 10 million to 1 billion different types of healthy bacteria on the planet. They can be found in soil, in water and over your entire body. With so many different types of bacteria existing, it seems fair to suggest that all probiotics are not the same. In fact, many different strains of healthy bacteria are presently used in supplements and treatments for numerous disease states from colitis and acne to irritable
bowel syndrome.