Probiotics may deserve a place alongside your sunscreen and anti-aging moisturiser. Research has found that the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 may improve skin hydration and the appearance of wrinkles. The double-blind trial was published in the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology and included 110 women, ages 41 to 59, with dry skin and wrinkles. The women were randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic powder containing 10 billion colony-forming units of L. plantarum HY7714 or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. Researchers measured the women’s skin hydration, wrinkles, skin gloss, and skin elasticity every four weeks during the study. Here’s what they found at the end of the study:

• Women taking the probiotic had significantly more facial and skin hydration, and less water loss through the skin, than women taking the placebo.
• Women taking the probiotic had a greater reduction in wrinkle depth, enhancement in skin gloss, and improvement in skin elasticity than women taking the placebo.

This study supports previous research that has found L. plantarum HY7714 may be beneficial for skin hydration and appearance, although more research is needed to understand this relationship. Taking supplements for anti-aging skin benefits is by no means a new idea: alpha-lipoic acid and vitamins C and E, among others, have also been associated with better skin health.

Source: Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology