Skin Microbiome What Is It And What Does It Have To Do With Your Health

The Skin Microbiome And Why It’s Important

It sounds strange, but it’s true: your skin is full of bacteria, fungi and viruses that are good for you. They form a protective barrier for the body, keep the skin’s pH balanced, and fight microorganisms that cause us infections and diseases.

When we talk about microorganisms, we usually think of pathogens that cause disease and are bad for our health. But despite the bad reputation of microbes, many of them are beneficial. An example? The bacteria are used in the manufacture of yogurts. They help in digestion, fight bacteria that are bad for the body, and some can even soften inflammatory processes.  

Good microorganisms are everywhere – including in our bodies. In fact, we harbor an immensity of them, inside and outside our organs. They are in our intestines – forming the intestinal flora – and even in the different layers of the skin.   

 Most of the microbes that literally live on us are bacteria. But we also host fungi, protozoa and even viruses. These true communities of microorganisms form what we call the human microbiome (or microbiota). 

Science is discovering that this whole class performs a series of functions that are vital to the balance of our health, such as helping in the digestion of food, synthesizing vitamins and generating anti-inflammatories that we cannot produce on our own. 

The relationship between us and our microbes is so crucial that the proper functioning of our immune system depends on it. That is why studies on the human microbiome are intensifying more and more: it is believed that the key to curing various diseases may lie in the colony of microorganisms that live in every millimeter of our body. 

 Skin microbiome 

The skin has a microbiome of its own: an ecosystem made up of more than a trillion living microorganisms located in pores, follicles and in every layer of skin. They form the flora of the skin and are essential for our health. 

The composition of this universe of microorganisms changes according to the characteristics of the part of the body in which it is located: legs, hands, genitals, face, etc. And knowing how to care for each one is essential to ensuring that the microbiome is in balance throughout the body.  

The first step is to be aware and use cosmetics that are formulated with ingredients that help balance the skin’s microbiome. In addition to inhibiting the proliferation of evil microorganisms, they will also protect the good microorganisms. 

A healthy microbiome ensures that the skin does not suffer from hypersensitivity, dryness, and conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne.   

So, keeping this invisible ecosystem in harmony is vital to prevent the emergence of skin diseases.  

How to know if your skin microbiome is healthy

Your microbiome gives important signs that things are not going well and that your skin needs more care to maintain its balance. Keep an eye out if you notice: 

• Dryness 
• Itch 
• Redness 
• Irritation 
• Acne breakout 

How to care for the skin microbiome 

1 -Avoid very hot and long baths. 

2-Use soaps that respect the skin’s pH. 

3- Hydrate your skin always. 

4- Use cosmetics with biomimetic formulas, made with ingredients that respect and imitate the skin’s natural mechanisms. 

5- Adopt a healthy lifestyle: controlled stress level, nutritious diet, and physical exercises always help.

Also, Read : How To Eat Your Way To Healthy & Glowing Skin

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