Can Probiotics Cause a Skin Rash or Itching? 

You may have heard that taking probiotics can cause itching or a rash, and if you’ve noticed one when you’ve just started probiotics, you’re probably wondering if the two are connected. Let’s explore the gut-skin connection and how you can make probiotics work for your skin and not against it.

Can Probiotics Cause a Rash or Itching?

Yes, adding probiotics as a supplement to your diet or in other forms can sometimes cause a rash or itching. It’s not because probiotics are “bad” for you, though, after all, these are healthy bacteria that are supposed to be friendly to your gut and body! There may be other things going on related to the probiotics that are showing up as a rash. 

Die-Off Reactions

Within a few days of starting a new probiotic, your internal microbiome shifts. The good bacteria start pushing out the “bad” bacteria, and those harmful bacteria will slowly start dying. When those bad bacteria die, they release byproducts that can cause a temporary inflammatory reaction. That might be the rash or irritation you’re seeing. But it might actually be a good sign, showing you that the probiotic is indeed helping you get rid of the bad guys.

Histamine Intolerance

Some probiotic strains, especially from the Lactobacillus species, produce histamine or encourage other histamine-producing bacteria in the gut. If you’re very sensitive to histamine or have a hard time breaking it down, having histamines present can cause itching or hives, almost like an allergic reaction. (It isn’t a true allergic reaction though.)

True Allergy

It isn’t common to have an actual allergic reaction to probiotics, but it can happen. If it’s a dairy-based culture and you’re allergic to dairy, that can trigger a genuine allergic response. The same goes for other allergens like soy or specific additives and ingredients. If a rash comes with swelling and hives that quickly spread, that might be a true allergy.

Is It The Probiotic, Or Something Else?

So yes, probiotics can cause a rash in the first few days as you adjust and your body gets rid of the bad bacteria. But how do you know that the rash you’re seeing is actually from the probiotics, or if it’s from something else?

Look at these factors to see if it’s a probiotic adjustment rash:

Timing

A probiotic rash shows up within the first few days of starting use. If your rash started later than that, it’s probably not the typical probiotic adjustment rash.

Other Triggers

Check if you started using other, more commonly irritating products at the same time as starting probiotics. New foods, skincare products, or detergents may be the culprit for your rash.

Rash Location

Check where the rash shows up. A probiotic rash will be widespread, all over, not concentrated to a specific area. A localized rash will usually come from a topical trigger.

Severity

Breakouts from probiotics are usually mild, with light itching. Swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing can point to a real allergic reaction that needs immediate attention.

The good news is that a probiotic rash improves quickly on its own, so you’ll see it improving within a week or two. If you don’t see that it’s getting better or if it is in fact getting worse, consider other triggers for the rash that may need to be dealt with.

Why Are Probiotics and Skin Even Connected?

Now you might be wondering, why is what I’m swallowing showing up on my skin? Like, why are the two even connected? 

But actually, the gut bacteria and your skin work closely together, because when your gut bacteria is out of whack, that causes inflammation. And one of the first places for inflammation to show up in your body is on your skin.

Actually, your skin is host to a microbiome too (that’s what we call the bacteria your skin has living in it) and when that skin microbiome is out of whack, you’ll see even more breakouts and conditions like acne or eczema. (For more info on probiotics for specific skin conditions, see our guide to probiotics for oily skin.) Because skin is your first line of defense, this breakdown of the skin microbiome can negatively affect your gut bacteria too.

One of the best and most effective ways of healing your skin microbiome is through skincare products that include probiotics in the actual formula. This way, you can heal skin from the outside in, not only relying on the longer process of healing from the inside out, waiting for your gut bacteria to influence your skin.

Probiotic Skincare: A Safer Way to Get Benefits

So if you’ve had a reaction to oral probiotics, or your skin microbiome really needs a boost, check out what probiotic skincare can do for you. Because you’re applying it straight to your skin, it’s usually a gentler, more targeted way to get the benefits.

Try this probiotic cleanser from Glowbiotics for your first probiotic skincare product. It’s formulated with probiotics that help balance your skin’s microbiome for a calmer and clearer complexion. Give it a try, that's all your skin microbiome may need to feel balanced again.