Simple Steps to a Healthy Skin Microbiome
Skin is our body’s largest organ and one of the most complex organs we have, but beauty is more than skin deep. Your skin plays host to an entire world that helps you look and feel your best: the skin microbiome.
What Is The Skin Microbiome?
In order for your skin to look radiant, the microbiome provides a healthy and diverse environment for skin flora to live. These microbes are completely harmless and are tasked with the important job of keeping your skin beautiful and your immune system strong.
Your skin microbiome is as unique as your fingerprints, with different skin surfaces playing host to different skin flora. Regardless of where these microbes live, they all rely on the same substance to thrive: sebum.
Sebum is the oil your skin organically produces and is the fuel keeping skin flora healthy. This oil also acts as a natural lubricant and antimicrobial. The health of these microbiotas is incredibly important as the skin's microbiome is the first line of defense against injury and harmful bacteria.
The Importance of Skin Flora
Healthy skin flora is a vital part of your immune system and works hard to create an environment that can fight off bad bacteria that can develop as a result of everyday activities. Your skin's cool, dry, and acidic environment is extremely effective at warding off bad bacteria and acts as your immune system's first line of defense.
Skin is not the only microbiome that helps to keep your body healthy. You have similar microbes working to keep you healthy from the inside. In fact, your skin and gut microbiomes are connected via the gut-skin axis. For optimum health, both your gut and skin microbiomes should be well-balanced. This is achieved through proper hygiene, hydration, and nutrition.
Effects of Skincare Products on Your Skin's Microbiome
Over time, harsh skincare products and bathing routines can wreak havoc on skin flora's natural defenses. This may leave your skin dry, irritated, or not as lustrous as it once was. Besides the physical irritation, this may cause a much bigger problem. The pH of your skin is very delicate. Over-washing, harsh skincare products, and even aggressive drying habits upset the balance by killing the good bacteria your skin relies on.
The good news is that you can repair this damage and restore healthy skin balance with these tips for a healthy skin microbiome.
Tips for Ensuring a Healthy Skin Microbiome
Learning to take proper care of your skin may take some time, but we are here to help! Many people are shocked to find that their routines are not fully optimized to achieve the best results for their skin type. Here are a few simple suggestions you can follow to nourish your skin flora, including actions that go beyond the products you actually put on your skin.
Proper Nutrition and Hydration
What goes into your body directly impacts your overall health, including your skin! A balanced diet with adequate healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, protein, and fiber fuels your gut bacteria which directly impacts your skin microbiome.
Hydration is also a key ingredient to a thriving skin microbiome. We recommend investing in a reusable water bottle and sipping throughout the day. Aim for at least 64 ounces per day to stay properly hydrated.
Bonus lifestyle tip: exercise to break a sweat regularly! Sweating helps to feed your skin flora.
Your Skincare Products
We are bombarded with information about good hygiene from a young age. But, what most Americans consider hygienic may not be so good for their skin after all. If you are washing your face throughout the day or taking multiple showers you are stripping your skin of the sebum it needs to stay balanced.
Harsh cleansers and scrubbing are also hazardous to the delicate balance of skin flora. Avoid vigorously scrubbing and drying off to prevent micro-tears. While these tears are not visible to the naked eye, they can be a spot for unhealthy bacteria to form. Instead, use a plant-based, non toxic cleanser, and gently pat your skin dry.
When selecting soaps, avoid antibacterials as they may kill the good and the bad bacteria that live on your skin. Today we have more skincare options than ever before. Look for soaps and lotions that have ingredients like hyaluronic acid in them to support the health of your microbiome, or ask one of our talented estheticians for their expert recommendations!
Select Natural Fabrics and Fibers
Man-made, synthetic fabrics may contribute to imbalances in your skin flora, especially if these fabrics are tight, cause your temperature to rise, or cause you to sweat unnecessarily. These signs all indicate that you may be creating an environment in which good skin flora can not survive. Opt for cotton fabrics whenever possible. This is not limited to your clothes, but also your towels and sheets.
As we enter a new season, it is important to nourish your skin throughout the transition. We are always here to answer your questions about skincare products to keep your skin healthy and glowing. You can also book a facial with one of our estheticians and chat with them about your specific skincare needs after a careful skin analysis.