So skipping a daily pass can eventually mess up your hormones, which can show throughout your body and skin. “Poor metabolic waste disposal and hormonal imbalances can wreak havoc on your skin,” says Brighten. As you may already know, hormone imbalances are closely related to breakouts around the chin and jawline, often referred to as “hormonal acne.”

But this applies not only to rashes. There is constipation associated with a significant risk of atopic dermatitis (or eczema)2also. Maybe that’s why Pedre has “seen eczema get better just by making someone poop more often.” Pretty impressive, right?

Even if you’re not dealing with more serious skin conditions like acne or eczema, you can definitely experience dull and dry skin due to constipation. “When you’re not shitting, [the toxins] you have to come out somehow,” says celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo, who coined the term “dew dumpling skin.” That’s why she prioritizes the No. 2 star treatment (probiotics, juices, etc.): “Topical skin care can only go so far. It starts from within,” she adds.

In short, your entire body, including your skin, is directly affected by how often you poop. As Pedre points out, “Pooping is essential for detoxifying the body, and the longer you hold your poo, the more likely it is that toxins that have been packed away, ready to be flushed out of your body, will have more time to recirculate and be reabsorbed. into your body.”