An imbalance in the microbiome can use caused to the over-usage of various antibiotics, which often leads to the overgrowth of the disease-causing bacteria and yeast.
Such an imbalance can affect your skin and overall health conditions and cause them to degrade with time. Though various types of research are still under-process, and the world is yet to gain full knowledge about its working mechanisms, a few researchers have stated claims that are probable to be true in most instances.
Let’s glance at such a topic, chiefly restricting their effect on the skin, and gain some interesting knowledge about it.
What Is Skin Microbiome?
Heidi H. Kong, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, has defined the skin microbiome as “the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses – and some people include mites—that reside on and in our skin.”
The mystery behind how the skin microbiomes function is yet to be discovered. These ‘friendly’ bacteria shall help you control the growth of some other harmful microbes.
This topic has many grounds to gain knowledge. Still, research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science states that a healthy microbiome should be balanced and diverse.
The collection of microorganisms on one person’s skin is unique and even differs from site to site on your own body. Microbiome imbalance in the skin has been reported by researchers who study various diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne vulgaris.
What Causes Microbiome Imbalance On The Skin?
One major reason behind skim microbiome imbalance can be immune deficiencies, which cause irregularity in the skin microbiome or microbiota. Such imbalance can also be sometimes caused due to various harsh beauty products or a high-fat diet. When these products are used a great number, microbiome imbalance increases greatly.
Additionally, harsh surfactants attack the interaction between the skin and the microbiome on many levels. The resident bacteria get removed by the harsh surfactants, but the skin gets dried out, and the skin barrier, thus, get prone to attack.
As a result, the acid protective layer cannot be maintained, and there is a high possibility of microbiome shift, causing a change in the microorganisms. The pathogens and allergens, thus, get more chances to penetrate the skin even easily, making the skin much more sensitive.
How Could You Keep Your Skin Microbiome Healthy?
Various experts claim that it is somewhat early to have faith in the products that advertise themselves to support or bring improvement in your skin microbiome. As mentioned earlier, the microbiomes differ from site to site in one person’s body. Thus, it might turn out to be a challenge for the products to target the skin microbiomes.
Many people often ask a common query, ‘what is microbiome nutrient serum’ Well, here is where it comes into play. They blend some ingredients that cause a prebiotic effect on your skin. These ingredients aid the good bacteria in your skin to grow further in a more nourished and proper way.
Choose gentle cleansers and skin care products carefully, which can help you protect the skin microbiome. It is advisable to avoid using products that shall stand as too abrasive for your skin. Such an environment on your skin invites more pathogens and bacteria, which like to attach themselves to a barrier that is not intact.
What Shall Affect Your Skin Microbiome?
The skin microbiome composition varies throughout the entire makeup of your body. Some microorganisms thrive in moist areas, such as the elbow creases or the feet, while others might prefer dry or oily spots for their survival.
However, certain things might affect the skin microbiome. They are:
- Diet
- Genes
- Different lifestyle choices, viz., smoking or drinking
- Exposure to UV rays
- Air Pollution
- Environmental changes
Some of these effects occur in quite early stages of one’s life and contribution to the skin microbiome.
Benefits Of A Healthy Skin Microbiome
The presence of a healthy microbiome keeps the unhealthy bacteria and fungi away. The harmful bacteria on the skin can give rise to inflammation and cause activation of the immune system. Contribution to diseases like type 2 diabetes is feasible with such bacteria.
The skin microbiomes play a role in immunity cases and help identify and eliminate the disease-causing pathogens.
Various studies have discovered that people with immune deficiencies have different microbiomes than the ones who are healthy in the lot. Thus, Dr. Kong has concluded that the “immune system is important in shaping the microbiome.”
How Can You Keep Your Skin Healthy?
A few steps could be taken as small contributions towards changing your skin microbiome. The earlier in life you practice these habits, the greater probability of healthy skin shall be assured to you. Some of the tips are listed below.
● Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturizing your skin gives the barrier a boost. It helps immensely in skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Apart from the creams, petroleum jelly (a budget-friendlier choice than the creams) can work fine for you.
Ensure to keep a distance from the harsh ingredients.
● Avoid Over-Sanitizing
Cleaning your skin more than necessary can cause imbalances in your skin microbiomes; even antibacterial products can cause the same effect.
When washing is done more than required, the baby’s chances are to inherit diseases like eczema (atopic dermatitis). However, further detailed research on this ground is still pending.
● Give Up Smoking
Smoking can cause inflammation and bring turbulences to your skin microbiome, thus, affecting your health. Avoid smoking to get back to a healthy lifestyle.
● Exercise
The gut microbiome can be altered when the right physical activity is performed. Even the skin microbes do get benefited from this.
● Stay More In The Nature
A green environment can help you boost your microbiome and keep your overall physical and mental health fine.
● Cure Medical Conditions
Various diseases and irregularities like diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis often give rise to skin issues and impairments. Thus, curing and treating these conditions right will help you fetch good health and, therefore, a healthy microbiome.
Maintain A Healthy Microbiome Balance!
Many undiscovered facts are yet to be known to the world regarding microbiomes. However, the stack of microbiomes that live on your skin is most likely to have contributed to maintaining your healthy skin and putting a bar on the various skin irregularities.
Until more research and studies are published, we hope you have a vivid knowledge of microbiomes and their contribution to our day-to-day lifestyle!
