What is the Skin Microbiome?

Functioning as the external interface of the human body with the environment, the skin acts as a physical barrier to prevent the invasion of foreign bodies while being inhabited by commensal organisms: the microbiota – a complex community of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These microorganisms and the environment around them make up the microbiome.

The skin microbiome is tremendously diverse in the number and activity of organisms. The composition of the microbiome depends on intrinsic factors: both the body part and the skin of each body part have different microbial compositions, and the skin’s physiology, which is related to a microenvironment characterized by moisture, dryness, and sebaceous content. Additionally, the skin microbiome undergoes temporal changes with age and also varies with genetics and gender. Finally, the microbiome is influenced by extrinsic factors such as diet, lifestyle, hygiene routine, geographic location, climate, weather, use of antibiotics, and cosmetics.

The microbiome is essential for maintaining the skin barrier function, participating in essential physiological processes that occur in the skin. The microbiome also directly interacts with pathogenic microorganisms found on the skin’s surface.

In particular, the microbiome participates in the performance of skin barrier functions, in physical, chemical, microbial, and immunological ways. These interrelationships are the product of a well-controlled and delicately balanced microbiome.

However, this balanced system can quickly become unstable due to continuous exposure to various extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including pollution, sun damage, and skin irritants.

Changes in the skin microbiome can lead to pathophysiological problems, inducing inflammatory skin conditions:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Rosacea

How can I improve my skin microbiome with skincare?

Balancing your skin’s microbiome requires a combination of prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic ingredients. It’s important to find microbiome care that combines these three elements to enhance results.

The skin’s pro, pre, and postbiotics work together to maintain the microbiome balance:

• Probiotics are live microbes that exist on the skin and play a crucial role in stabilizing the microbiome.
• Prebiotics are the substances on the skin that help feed and stimulate the growth and healthy balance of probiotics.
• Postbiotics are the byproducts (new beneficial substances) that probiotics generate as they break down on the skin’s surface and within it, including peptides, proteins, amino acids, enzymes, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, ceramides, antioxidants, and other vital substances for the skin. Postbiotics help facilitate an optimal microbiome by retaining vital hydration and strengthening the skin barrier against environmental aggressors.

When the microbiome is stable and healthy, you’ll see and feel the results on your skin:

• The skin protects itself better against environmental aggressions.
• Hydration levels are optimized and maintained.
• Sensitive and reddened skin is soothed.
• Skin issues decrease thanks to the restoration and maintenance of a healthy pH balance.

Our The Wonder Complexion serum contains ingredients that protect the microbiome and strengthen the skin barrier:

Glyceryl glucoside

• stabilization of the skin barrier, thus reducing the imbalance of commensal and pathogenic bacteria on the skin, the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, and the appearance of inflammation and immune reaction;
• prebiotic effects with potential positive effects on the natural and healthy microbiome;
• promotion of faster epithelial barrier regeneration and consequently stabilization of the skin flora.

Ceramides

Ceramides make up about 50% of the skin barrier lipids and are essential for a healthy and hydrated skin barrier. And a strong skin barrier keeps the microbiome balanced.

 

References:

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Swaney MH, Kalan LR. Living on your skin: microbes, molecules, and mechanisms. Infect Immun. March 17, 2021;89(4):e00695-20. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00695-20.

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