The Skin Microbiome

It’s likely you’ve heard of the “gut microbiome,” but have you heard of the skin microbiome?

The human body is composed of multiple communities of bacteria that each have their own environment which each serve different functions. The skin biome specifically, is an ecosystem of microorganisms that live on the skin that affect the way your skin looks and feels. Your skin serves many different purposes, one of which is to act as a barrier to the outside world, from all of the potential outside threats of our modern lifestyle. In the same way that having a healthy gut flora can protect against disease, having a balanced skin microbiome also protects you from infections and toxins.

The microorganisms found on the skin are mostly beneficial and help secure the skin’s moisture barrier, but when they become imbalanced, certain microorganisms can become more opportunistic, which can trigger skin issues. So what disrupts a balanced biome and triggers the imbalance to occur?

• Topical overuse of antibacterial soaps can lead to psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, acne and more.

• An imbalanced gut microbiome influences what happens on the skin - due to the gut-skin axis.

• Not enough time spent in nature - when you aren’t exposed to the variety of microbes in the environment, this leads to a less diverse and less healthy skin biome.

Keeping your skin glowing, free of inflammation and acne means keeping the skin biome in balance. This can be done from the inside out, as well as through the products you apply topically. Here are some of the top ways to restore the biome:

• Rebalancing the microbiome can include using products that use only natural ingredients, including oils and plant botanicals. This also includes reducing the use of products that contain harsh chemicals, as they destroy the microbiome and strip the natural oils of the skin that work to keep the skin balanced. The less diverse the skin microbiome, the more blemish-prone.

• Eating whole, nutrient-dense foods and proper hydration help your skin to stay plump and radiant.

• Spend time outdoors, open your windows - this allows for the transfer of microbes onto your skin and into your nasal passages, also known as “breathing your biome!”

Are you curious about products you can swap to that will encourage the restoration to your skin’s biome? Check out my storefront on Amazon! Click HERE to view my consciously curated skincare folder where you will find many of my favorite low-tox products that have helped to keep my skin clear <3