Bacterial colonization of the skin has long been of interest to dermatologists. The skin of an adult human is a complex ecosystem covering an area of 1.8 m2, which includes folds, intussusceptions and special niches where the living conditions of microbes can vary significantly. Most microorganisms living on the skin are harmless, and in some cases they can even perform certain functions. Moreover, it is the skin microbiome that is responsible for the protective function of the skin. On estet-portal.com read about the main inhabitants of the human skin, as well as how not to damage the microbiome by improperly caring for the skin.
- The main representatives of the normal skin microbiome
- The skin and intestines are inhabited by almost the same microorganisms
- Main functions of the skin microbiome
- How to protect the skin microbiomeand
The main representatives of the normal skin microbiome
The skin is the largest organ of the body, providing a barrier function. Due to its specific structure and cellular functions, it is an ecosystem, a living biological complex of various microorganisms.
Skin colonization is a perfectly normal process when it comes to the growth of bacteria on the body when exposed to the environment, without the development of infection. For decades, the gram-positive bacterium staphylococcus epidermidis was considered the main colonist of the skin, but over time, coryneform bacteria and micrococci have been found. Further studies have isolated fungi, mainly from the genus malassezia, and parasitic mites, primarily demodex folliculorum and demodex brevis, which are now considered part of the normal flors.
Skin health and the role of the microbiome in preventing skin aging
The skin and intestines are inhabited by almost the same microorganisms
Recently developed research methods have made it possible to identify the skin microbiome, which describes the collective genome of microorganisms that inhabit the human body.
The microbiome is a highly complex and varied interaction between different microorganisms, including interspecies relationships between viruses, fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
Qualitative identification of microorganisms has been made possible by molecular methods and it has revolutionized the way we look at skin. Most of the skin microflora has been found to belong to one of four types: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroids and Proteobacteria; the same as in the gastrointestinal tract, but in different proportions. The skin and gastrointestinal flora are homogeneous at the group level and diverse within the bacterial groups.
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The main functions of the skin microbiome
The microbiome forms a vital part of skin function. It makes the skin not only an organ, but also a unique and fluid ecosystem where host-microbiome interactions shape and influence skin health. Due to microorganisms that colonize the skin, skin immunity is formed and various vital substances are synthesized.
Skin colonization begins at birth, when the baby enters the vaginal flora through the birth canal, and continues through lactation.
Most microorganisms living on the skin are harmless, while symbiotic microorganisms can protect the skin from pathogens and train billions of T-cells to respond to pathogenic floray.
How not to harm the skin microbiome
Things such as physical trauma, stress, treatment of systemic and local diseases have a strong and often negative impact on the condition and characteristics of the microbiome, reducing its diversity and richness, while reducing the protective function of the skin.
Frequent washing disrupts the barrier function of the skin and leads to significant negative changes in the microbiome, increasing the risk of infections and dermatoses.
Evidence points to the potential impact of hygienic solutions and skin care products (including makeup) on the skin microbiome. For example, regular use of acidic products can affect the pH of the skin, disrupting the stability of the microbiome. This may be useful in some cases, such as in patients with acne, where the acidic environment helps to slow down the pathological process of overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes. However, the effect of an acidic environment can be negative in the case of healthy skin with a healthy microbiome. After all, when the pH decreases, the skin can become more vulnerable.
Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics, both systemic and topical, always affects the skin as well as the intestinal microflora and can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, which is a global problem for the treatment of infectious diseases.
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