How Microbiomes Affect Your Skin’s Ecosystem?
If you are a skincare enthusiast, you must have heard of this buzzing topic on the internet before. Do you know that the surface of your skin is a home to billions of good and bad microorganisms, such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria? Altogether, a community of these living organisms on the skin are popularly known as Microbiomes. And, the interesting part is that they are quite beneficial to your skin.
Yes! We know that might sound ironic but yes, the largest organ in your body which is your skin needs these organisms for protection. Let’s take it back to biology! Do you remember how those microbes living in our digestive tracts help in the digestion process? Yes, that is similar to what happens on your skin. However, for this process to occur, these microbiomes need to be properly balanced with each other.
It’s also believed these microorganisms contribute to what causes inflammatory skin problems, like acne, psoriasis, dermatitis and rosacea. Although, scientific research under this area is still in progress. Here, we will enlighten you on a few points we’ve gather.
Grab a bite and join us as we take you through, how these microbiomes affects your skin and what you need to do to keep them balanced.
What Are Skin Microbiomes?
Skin Microbiomes can simply be referred to as a collection of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are living on the skin. Researchers have proven that these friendly microorganisms help in protecting the skin against pathogens and inflammation. And they are unique to individuals.
A healthy microbiomes is supposed to be balanced, which means the good bacteria thrives without letting the bad ones overtake it. This balance is very vital in keeping unwanted invaders away from the skin. As much as the makeup of microbiomes is unique to individuals, it also varies throughout the entire body. Some microbes flourish in dry areas, like the elbow, while others thrive in moist or oily areas.
The imbalance of microbiomes is scientifically referred to as dysbiosis. Although, the real reason why this happens is still uncertain. However, scientists have attributed it as one of the contributing factors of inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, etc. Some of the factors that affect Microbiome’s peculiarities among individuals include; gene, diet, lifestyle habits, pollution, UV exposure, etc.
How Microbiome Affects Your Skin?
Generally, the skin microbiome is part of what forms the physical layer that provides protection to the skin against the outside world. It works hand-in-hand with the other parts of the skin in the following areas.
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Maintaining Immunity
This is the major benefit of having a healthy microbiome on your skin. Some microbes are naturally antibiotics while some act like a warning signal, alerting the immune system to the presence of unwanted bacteria or fungi on the skin.
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Maintaining Skin PH Level
While giving a helping hand to the immune system, some of these microorganisms also help in keeping the skin acidic, that way making the skin unconducive for many unhealthy germs or irritants.
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Wound Healing
Microbiomes also help in facilitating wound healing by sending the right signal to the body system. This activity also helps in controlling inflammation on the skin as the signal can activate and also disable the immune system.
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Respond To UV Exposure
It’s also believed that the microbiomes contribute to how the skin responds to ultraviolet light. Since the UV light is known to inhibit the immune response while it damages the skin. These microbes prevent this process by triggering inflammatory response to UV exposure, alerting the immune system to fight off this damage.
Aside from these benefits, there are other not-fully explored ways by which microbiomes affects the skin. As we stated earlier, this is still a developing study in science. However, we’ll keep you updated once those theories are fully established as facts.
How To Keep Skin Microbiomes Balanced?
The skin microbiome makeup can easily become unstable due to environmental factors or lifestyle habits, such as pollution, irritating skin care products, UV exposure, etc. To make it easier, we have outlined a few tips that could help you.
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Avoid Over-Cleansing
Cleansing your skin too much can destabilise the balance of your microbiome, especially if you are using strong formulas. Instead we recommend cleansing at most twice a day (morning & night) with a gentle cleanser like our Blanco Facial Cleanser. On top of it, you may use the Bleach Toner.
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Moisturize Properly
To boost your skin barrier and also reduce the tendency of inflammatory conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, we recommend moisturizing deeply. Apply our Silky Serum for your face and then, lock in moisture with our ultimate Collagen Moisturizer.
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Apply Sunblock
As earlier stated, damage from excess UV exposure can affect your microbiome balance. Hence, we recommend applying our 24-hour Sunblock SPF 50 daily for round the clock UV protection.
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Avoid Poor Lifestyle Habits
Finally, invest in quality habits that don’t just affect your skin positively, but your entire body system. Eat healthy diets and wear protective clothing in a place where your skin is likely exposed to external pollutants or irritants.
Conclusion
Our skin is in a mutualistic relationship with billions of good and bad microorganisms, collectively known as Microbiomes. Their balance provides an antibiotic protection against harmful environmental stressors that might want to invade the skin. The imbalance of these microbes can also contribute to the cause of some inflammatory skin conditions.
While the quantity of these microbes is unique to individuals, it also varies in different areas of our bodies. Some thrive in moist areas while some require dry or oily places like the T-zone to flourish. The balance of these microbiomes is also dependent on how you take care of your skin. That being said, a commitment to a quality skincare routine matters.
If you’re struggling with any of the mentioned inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our professionals today by booking a FREE consultation below. Alternatively, you may also check out our skin problem page to explore our treatment for each of these skin problems.
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