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The Link Between Gut Health & Skin Cancer May Be Stronger Than You Think

Author:

Hannah Frye

September 13, 2023

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

By Hannah Frye

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

Closeup portrait of a woman with gray hair and fine lines

Image by Viktor Solomin / Stocksy

September 13, 2023

The gut-skin axis may be complex, but understanding the concept is essential for optimal skin health. We know that imbalances in your gut microbiome can exacerbate skin concerns like acne, eczema, and psoriasis 1, yet it's often overlooked in typical Western medicine treatment protocols.

However, new research underscores just how important a healthy gut microbiome is for skin health; in fact, it even suggests a link between gut health and favorable outcomes related to skin cancer. Here's what we know right now.

The link between gut health and melanoma

The case-control study, published in JAMA Dermatology, found that melanoma participants had a different gut microbiome structure compared to the control group 2. Specifically, they had a significantly lower amount of multiple beneficial commensals (a type of microbe), compared to the control participants.

The trial included 228 participants—49 of whom did not have melanoma. The rest of the group had a diversity of melanoma progression stages to ensure the researchers could track disease development and associated gut microbiome shifts.

Those with melanoma also had a higher concentration of Fusobacterium bacteria (which has been known to cause infections 3) when compared to the control group.

Participants with early-stage melanoma had more diverse microbiomes than those with late-stage skin cancer, emphasizing the importance of bacteria diversity in the gut. We should note, previous research has found a correlation between decreased microbial diversity and chronic health conditions, like Type 2 diabetes and obesity 4, as well.

Just to be clear, these findings serve as a correlation—not a causation. So while this information may be helpful for physicians to consider when diagnosing and treating early-stage melanoma, there's no saying that keeping your gut healthy will prevent skin cancer whatsoever.

Instead, the significance lies in understanding some of the full-body effects of skin cancer and reiterating the importance of the gut-skin axis. Nevertheless, more research is needed to confirm these findings, as well as offer specific actionable remedies for those already diagnosed with skin cancer.

5 tips to improve skin & gut health

Regardless, it's well worth the effort to keep your gut and skin happy whenever possible. Below, some tips to keep in mind:

Wear SPF every day: Over 90% of skin cancers are caused by the sun, so preventing melanoma from forming starts with sun protection. Wear your SPF every day, avoid excessive sunbathing when you can, and tend to your skin post-sun exposure to replenish moisture.
Consider taking a probiotic: On the gut health front, keeping a probiotic on hand is a good idea. Popular benefits generally include improving digestion and regularity, easing inflammation 5 in the body, and even balancing cholesterol levels 6 (just to name a few).
Prioritize diversity of natural foods: Even if you take probiotics, you should still try to get an array of balanced foods on your plate when possible. The more diverse your diet is, the higher chance your gut will follow suit.
Get enough sleep: As one 2019 study in PLOS One7 notes, "Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome can influence sleep quality. We found that total microbiome diversity was positively correlated with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time." Prioritize better sleep in whatever way works for you, be it an allotted wind-down time, skipping social media before bed, etc.
Talk to your dermatologist: Last but not least, have an open conversation with your dermatologist if you're concerned about the development or progression of skin cancer. It's a great practice to get annual skin checks if possible, but if not, be sure to speak up should you be concerned for any reason. Early detection can make a huge difference.

The takeaway

A new study found that melanoma patients had a different gut microbiome structure than those without melanoma, reflecting further differences between early- and late-stage melanoma. That's not to say stellar gut health will prevent or treat skin cancer. However, these findings may help physicians diagnose and treat melanoma in the future, and we can't ignore the power of the gut-skin connection. Not sure if your gut is thriving? Here are a few signs to look out for.