Exploring the bidirectional skin-brain axis: Mental health, dermatology-related quality of life, and the role of probiotics

This study investigated associations between mental health (anxiety, depression, stress), dermatology-related quality of life (DLQI), and probiotic intake in 305 Brazilian adults. Women had significantly higher scores for anxiety, depression, and stress compared to men. Nearly half of participants reported dermatological disorders, and over half were at risk for at least one mental health condition. Strong positive correlations were found among anxiety, depression, and stress, while DLQI showed weak but significant correlations with these outcomes. Probiotic intake was not significantly associated with mental health measures, possibly due to low habitual consumption. Multiple linear regression identified stress and depression as independent predictors of anxiety, explaining 66% of its variance. The study highlights the bidirectional nature of the skin–brain axis and the disproportionate psychological and dermatological burden on women. The authors conclude that while probiotics hold theoretical promise, current evidence from this population does not support direct associations. Further longitudinal studies incorporating culturally relevant dietary patterns are needed to clarify these complex interactions.