Do we know enough about the skin’s microbiome? - Asya Grafy Bio Institute

Do we know enough about the skin’s microbiome?

Do we know enough about the skin’s microbiome?

We typically think of our skin only as a relation to our external appearance and beauty rituals—but  it’s essential to our overall health, too. Our skin is our body’s largest organ it acts as a physical,  chemical, immunological, and radiation barrier with the main function of preventing water loss,  keeping a constant body temperature, and protecting the body from infection and other toxic  substances1. The skin is made of different microorganisms that make up its so-called»  microbiome«, which is a beneficial and invisible ecosystem of living microorganisms2, that play a  major role in our skin’s defense mechanism while regulating exchanges between the external  environment and our body. Needless to say that the balance of our microbiome subsequently  affects the health and beauty of our skin – keeping it in balance is essential for maintaining a  hydrated and glowing complexion. Here our experts break down what the skin microbiome is and  how to nurture it for happier, healthier skin.

What influences the microbiome?

Our skin microbiome is a delicate and complex set of organisms that are affected  by many extrinsic factors like UV radiation, hygiene, beauty routine, physical  activity, climate, as well as our age, genetics, gender, sleep, and of course stress. 

The types of microorganisms that inhabit our skin are also dependent on the type of skin certain  parts of our bodies have, like dry (palm), moist (elbow bend), and oily or sebaceous (face, chest,  and back)4. 

It is also important to note that while it is believed that microbiome diversity is a requisite for skin  health1 it is not always the case. Elderly people have a high bacterial diversity and it is most likely  due to factors related to skin aging such as, among others, reduced skin cell renewal and easier  bacterial colonization compared to younger skin.1

Why is it important for the skin microbiome to stay balanced?

When it comes to the health of our skin’s microbiome, it’s especially important to focus on the  health and diversity of our skin barrier, as stated a healthy barrier protects against both  inflammation and infection. The effects of internal and external stressors can cause a disturbance  of the balance of the microbiome, in other words, it alters the proportions of organisms in healthy  skin and may trigger the pathogenic potential of commensals (microorganisms that live on our  skin and are harmless in normal conditions). Examples of diseases associated with dysbiosis are  acne, dandruff, and atopic dermatitis3. 

The disruption of the delicate balance of the microbiome can also cause  inflammation, irritation, dryness, and itchy skin, which is why hygiene practices  should aim at reducing the number of microorganisms without disturbing the  microbiome.

What can you do to maintain a healthy microbiome?

Our modern lifestyles, including what we eat, the products we use, and our reduced exposure to  nature due to our day-to-day workflow, have decreased our microbial diversity making us more  susceptible to dysbiosis associated with chronic inflammatory skin conditions, such as dryness,  overproduction of sebum, breakouts, redness, and inflammatory condition. 

An increasing number of companies have focused their attention on producing microbiome friendly skincare products. How they try to achieve this is by adapting formulations to prevent  the removal of so-called »good« microorganisms or to restore those that have been removed after,  for example, showering1.  

Some cosmetic products are better at maintaining a healthy microbiome than others, they can  contribute to its diversification or inhibit the growth of certain microorganisms. One of the  compounds that stimulate the microflora is N-acetylglucosamine, which is a precursor of  hyaluronic acid that is commonly found in cosmetic products. Moisturizers reduce water loss and  support the skin microbiota (collection of vital microorganisms) while on the other hand, face and  hand lotions had little to no effect on the diversity of microorganisms3. 

Important to note is that frequent use of soap and other antiseptics in hand disinfection can  hinder the balance of the microbiome due to damage to the skin surface and impair its protective  function.3 

Another factor for maintaining a healthy microbiome is to keep the skin’s acidic pH level in the  range of 4.1-5.8, depending on the part of the body. While the low pH maintains a healthy  microbiome it is also related to the formation and function of different lipids (oily compounds) in  our skin and the differentiation of keratinocytes (Fig. 1) (cells that form the top layer of our skin)  and thus skin disturbances and diseases. While there is a need for further research in this  department it is agreed upon that topical (applied on the skin) products should be in a pH range  from 4-6.

How to apply more microbiome-minded skincare into your  routine?

Opt for gentle products with clean, simplified ingredient lists, and avoid harsh ingredients,  especially if something feels irritating on the skin. 

We recommend trying the products from our INTENSILUX® and MULTIPEPTIDEX™  collections, as they are both driven by innovative skincare technology. The products from  our MULTIPEPTIDEX™ speed up the recovery of your skin’s barrier function by  supporting natural self-repair mechanisms, while our INTENSILUX® helps with  multitasking youth formulation, accelerating renewable process on all derma levels,  plumping skin with multilevel hydration, strengthening its natural barrier giving ageless  transformation of the skin by erasing all signs of time.

Our conclusion

The skin’s microbiome plays an important role in maintaining the proper functioning of the human  body and has thus attracted growing interest from researchers.3 But the question of what an ideal  microbiome should look like is still a mystery due to the sheer amount of variability between  people.1  

DNA extraction and sequencing techniques have been crucial in understanding what the  microbiome consists of thus in the future questions like, what roles microorganisms have and how  the microbiota is involved in sensitive, irritated, and dry skin will surely be answered. The bottom line is that the importance of a healthy and protective microbiome on each part of the  body has never been more relevant and it is important to keep that in mind when choosing our  products.

References: 

1. Sfriso, R., Egert, M., Gempeler, M., Voegeli, R. & Campische, R. Revealing the secret life of skin  – with the microbiome you never walk alone. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 42,  116-126 (2020) 

2. Gueniche, A. et al. Advances in Microbiome-Derived Solutions and Methodologies Are  Founding a New Era in Skin Health and Care. Pathogens. 11, 121. (2022) 

3. Skowron K. et al. Human Skin Microbiome: Impact of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on Skin  Microbiota. Microorganisms. 9, 543. (2021) 

4. Byrd, A., L., Belkaid, Y. & Segre, J., A. The human skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol. 16,  143-155. (2018) 

5. Lukić, M., Pantelić, I & Savić, D., S. Towards Optimal pH of the Skin and Topical Formulations:  From the Current State of the Art to Tailored Products. Cosmetics. 9, 69. (2021) 6. pictures: Pinterest

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Dr. Asya Grafy Team

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