Increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, contributes to skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

Is it true that increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, contributes to skin conditions such as acne and eczema?

Partly. Some reviews report that increased intestinal permeability is associated with immune-mediated conditions, including psoriasis, and one clinical review states that cutaneous autoimmune disorders can be triggered by inflammation at the gut permeability level. However, none of the retrieved items specifically addresses acne or eczema, and reference sources describe 'leaky gut syndrome' as a hypothetical, medically unrecognized condition with little supporting evidence.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 5 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Kerem, U., Hasan, E., & Serdar, P. (2025). Leaky Gut and Leaky Calves: Umbrella Review for Evidence of Proof and Published Articles. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17998455

Intestinal permeability. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestinal_permeability

From Leaky Gut to Leaky Skin: A Clinical Review of Lifestyle Influences on the Microbiome - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241292605

S, R., S, U., I, V., I, K., & M, R. (2026). The Gut-Skin and Gut-Thyroid Axis in Autoimmunity: Roles of Dysbiosis, Microbial Metabolites, Immune Dysregulation, and Diet in Psoriasis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101501

Aleman, R. S., Moncada, M., & Aryana, K. J. (2023). Leaky Gut and the Ingredients That Help Treat It: A Review. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020619

Partners in Leaky Gut Syndrome: Intestinal Dysbiosis and Autoimmunity. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.673708

Leaky gut syndrome. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaky_gut_syndrome