When we think about acne triggers, digestion might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But maybe it should be! It’s time to consider: what if your breakouts were tied not just to what you eat—but how your body processes it?
If you’ve ever felt like your skin reflects how your gut is functioning, you’re not imagining things. Digestive issues like constipation can contribute to internal inflammation, hormone disruption, and a sluggish detox system—all of which can manifest on your skin. That annoying breakout on your chin or jawline? It could be your gut waving a red flag.
In this post, we’ll explore how poor digestion—specifically constipation—can be a hidden root cause of acne. You’ll learn how to identify the signs, support your gut, and rebalance your skin from within.
How Poor Digestion Might Be Causing Your Acne
Constipation is defined as infrequent or difficult bowel movements—typically fewer than three per week. While uncomfortable on its own, it can also have deeper consequences for your skin.
Here’s why: your digestive system is one of your body’s primary detox pathways. When you’re not eliminating waste efficiently, toxins, excess hormones, and inflammatory byproducts can build up in your system. Instead of being flushed out, they recirculate through your bloodstream, eventually affecting your skin.
There’s only two ways that toxins can exit your body: through bowel movements (pooping!) and sweating.
If you’re not pooping 2-3 times a day, here’s how constipation can lead to acne:
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Excess hormones (like estrogen and androgens) are reabsorbed into the body, leading to hormonal imbalances that trigger breakouts.
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Toxins and waste accumulate, contributing to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can manifest as clogged pores and acne lesions.
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Gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria) worsens, leading to a weakened gut barrier and systemic inflammation, known as “leaky gut.”
So, if your skin feels congested, inflamed, or slow to heal—a sluggish gut could be a huge reason why.
Constipation and Acne: Is Your Gut Slowing Down Your Skin?
Understanding why you're constipated is the first step to resolving it, which will help not only your skin but your entire system! Some of the most common causes of constipation include:
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Low Fiber Intake: Without enough fiber, your stool lacks the bulk to move easily through the digestive tract.
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Dehydration: Water is essential to soften stool and stimulate bowel movements.
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Poor Gut Microbiome: A lack of good bacteria can slow digestion and reduce motility.
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Chronic Stress: Stress affects the gut-brain axis, slowing down digestion and gut motility.
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Hormonal Imbalances: Elevated progesterone or estrogen levels (common during menstruation or hormonal birth control) can slow digestion.
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Sedentary Lifestyle: Physical movement helps stimulate peristalsis—the muscle contractions that move food through the colon.
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Certain Medications or Supplements: Iron, opioids, and some antacids can cause constipation as a side effect.
These are just a few factors that can lead to constipation – it will vary based on your personal biology and lifestyle.
How Constipation Can Lead to Skin Inflammation and Acne
We already covered the main reasons why constipation can lead to acne, but let’s take a deeper look at how your gut health directly impacts your skin health:
1. Toxin Buildup and Inflammation
When you’re constipated, waste materials—including toxins and oxidized fats—aren’t removed efficiently. These substances can enter the bloodstream, where they travel throughout the body, including to your skin.
This internal congestion can stimulate your immune system, causing chronic inflammation. And as we know, inflammation is a major trigger for acne!
This is why supporting your digestion and supporting your liver go hand in hand. Your liver is the organ that is responsible for detoxification, but without supporting digestion, toxins can build up in your system.
That’s why we created A.C.V. Clear to immediately stimulate both detoxification and digestion, so you aren’t missing out on either.
2. Hormone Recirculation
One of the liver’s jobs is to break down hormones like estrogen and package them for removal through the bowels. But if you’re not eliminating regularly, those hormones can be reabsorbed into your system—leading to hormonal imbalances like estrogen dominance or increased androgen activity.
This is especially significant if you experience hormonal acne along your jawline, chin, or around your period.
Again, see how everything is connected?!
3. Disrupted Gut-Skin Axis
Constipation is often a sign of poor gut health overall. A sluggish digestive system can mean an unhealthy balance of gut bacteria (gut dysbiosis), a leaky gut barrier, or low digestive enzyme levels.
When the gut microbiome is out of balance, it can’t properly regulate the immune system or protect against inflammation—both key players in acne development.
That’s why we are so passionate about supporting the gut and digestion for clearer skin. All of our supplements are highly gut-friendly, and most of them support better digestion, so your gut-skin axis is well taken care of and your skin can thrive.
How to Get Your Digestion Moving Again
The good news? Improving your digestion can lead to both better gut health and clearer skin. Here are a few key strategies to get things moving:
1. Eat a Fiber-Rich, Whole Foods Diet
Fiber helps bulk up stool and feed beneficial gut bacteria. Focus on:
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Soluble fiber (oats, flaxseeds, chia, psyllium)
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Insoluble fiber (leafy greens, carrots, brown rice)
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Prebiotic-rich foods (garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus)
Fiber is also amazing for skin because it helps keep your blood sugar balanced, another win for healthy, clear skin!
2. Hydrate Generously
Dehydration is a major contributor to constipation. Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Add electrolytes or a pinch of sea salt to enhance absorption.
And of course, drinking all of that water will help keep your skin hydrated and glowing too!
3. Take High-Quality Supplements
Certain dietary supplements can help restore healthy digestion, depending on what your body needs. Many people can benefit from digestive support! We recommend:
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Digestive Enzymes: Help break down proteins, fats, and carbs more efficiently. Our Digestive Enzymes blend, GLOWTIME, contains a Wide-Spectrum Enzyme Blend to help this digestion, and it also features Prebiotics for gut health and Aloe to stimulate regular bowel movements.
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Magnesium Citrate: Gently supports regularity and helps draw water into the colon. Our PILLOWTIME-MAG supplement combines a blend of Magnesium Glycinate (to relax muscles) and Magnesium Citrate (to support bowel movements) so you can start each day with a great poop.
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Probiotics: Support a balanced microbiome and reduce inflammation. We love a spore-based probiotic because the strains are able to “stay alive” until they reach your stomach where they can go to work.
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GOOD SEEDS: This is a gut superfood supplement specifically designed to benefit the skin by soothing the gut and reducing inflammation from within.
4. Move Your Body Daily
Exercise boosts circulation and stimulates bowel motility. Even a 20-minute walk can help your digestion stay on track! We recommend hot yoga to help stimulate digestion and detox through sweat at the same time.
5. Reduce Stress
Stress impairs digestion via the gut-brain axis, and it’s one of the most overlooked acne triggers. Daily practices like breathwork, meditation, and journaling can ease tension and support smoother digestion (and clearer skin).
Stress reduction is also why we included 5-HTP, a naturally occurring amino acid that helps boost serotonin levels and promote a sense of calm, in our MINDBODYSKIN® acne supplement to support clear skin.
When to See a Doctor
If constipation is persistent—lasting more than a few weeks—or accompanied by severe bloating, pain, or blood in the stool, it’s time to talk to your healthcare provider. You might need additional testing to rule out underlying conditions like IBS, thyroid disorders, or food intolerances.
A functional medicine doctor or integrative nutritionist can also help pinpoint root causes and tailor a plan to support both gut and skin health.
Final Thoughts: Clear Skin Starts in the Gut
If you’re battling acne and also dealing with constipation, don’t overlook the powerful gut-skin connection. Your digestive system plays a vital role in clearing toxins, balancing hormones, and regulating inflammation—all key to achieving a healthy, radiant complexion.
By supporting regular digestion with fiber, hydration, stress management, and the right supplements, you can address one of the most overlooked contributors to acne. As always, your skin is a reflection of what’s happening inside—so when your gut is happy, your skin will glow.
