The skin microbiome is the community of microorganisms that live on the skin to protect and keep the skin barrier functioning. The human skin microbiome is made of approximately 10,000 different species of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and other viruses. *
Everyone’s microbiome is unique to them, and each area of skin has a different composition. This is because the microbiome can be influenced easily by several factors such as; humidity, UV-exposure, PH balance, lifestyle, even taking medications can influence a skins ecosystem.
Consumers view on holistic health has risen due to the pandemic. Washing our hands more frequently and wearing face masks has become a necessity. This has sparked a new level of interest in customer’s microbiomes, as when the skins microbiome is disrupted this is when you can suffer with; acne, dermatitis, skin inflammation, irritation, and eczema, so it is important to keep it healthy. A rise of these conditions has led to a demand for products that help improve and build the defence of the skin microbiome.
Director of insights Lumina Intelligence
"In Europe online engagement in the past 6 months has increased by 100% in the form of reviews for skin microbiome products such as prebiotic and probiotic formulas. There is a growing demand as consumers are understanding about how to defend their skin barrier and their skin’s health.” **
Prebiotics and probiotics can help defend the sin microbiome by protecting the health of the skin barrier.
“Probiotics are live bacteria that support the healthy bacteria in your body.” *** Topical Probiotics can be applied to the skin, increasing the level of ceramides which help protect the skin. Ceramides help seal in moisture and keep acne causing bacteria levels balanced.
“Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds that feed and support healthy bacteria and keep bad bacteria in check.” *** Prebiotics can be applied to the skin topically, helping the skin by balancing PH levels, and boosting healthy bacteria through supporting the skins barrier functions.
1. Eat well and drink plenty of water
2. Monitor what you eat, if food causes internal inflammation, reduce or remove from diet as it can affect the skin microbiome
3. Love your gut – research shows a link between how a healthy gut microbiome helps healthy skin.
4. Sanitize sensibly -it is more important now than ever to keep your hands clean, but over washing can cause serious damage to the good level of bacteria on your skin. If you can’t avoid over washing, try adding a moisturiser with prebiotics and probiotics to your routine
5. Work up a sweat – sweat provides great prebiotics for the skin
6. Reduce your stress levels
7. Use topical probiotics
Everyone has a different skin microbiome.
To keep the skin microbiome protected and healthy, prebiotic and probiotic can be applied topically to the skin.
Protecting the skin microbiome is more important than ever due to more frequent handwashing and wearing face masks.
Glossary:
Skin microbiome- is the community of microorganisms that live on the skin to protect and keep the skin barrier functioning. The microorganisms can range from bacteria to yeast and fungi.
Skin ecosystem- is the different microorganisms which thrive in different areas of your skin due to different temperatures and external aggressors.
Holistic health- is the looking at the overall health not just certain areas.
Prebiotics- are non-digestible compounds that feed and support healthy bacteria and keep bad bacteria in check.
Probiotics- are live bacteria that support the healthy bacteria in your body.