Happy Microbiome = Happy Skin. Understanding the microbiome and what it means for your skins natural wellbeing and vitality.
- Louisa
- Apr 8
- 5 min read
The microbiome is a personlaised eco-system - a rich, diverse, and beautiful biotic flora activity living on the surface of our skin. Serving as our first line of immune defense, it plays a pivotal role in shaping functionality, determining things like how the skin ages and how it will respond to topical products, internal nutrients and other pathogens we come in contact with.
When we approach skin health in a rooted understanding of this and aim to support the health of the microbiome, our skin responds in a healthy way. Our well-intentioned efforts to care for our skin hinges on the health and quality of our microbiome.
Supporting our skin’s natural microbiome wellness journey
Our skin’s microbiome is shaped by a delicate interplay of both internal and external factors and how well they interplay. Internal factors within our bodies, encompass age, genetics, gender, and natural immunity, hormones, sleep, stress, and metabolism. External factors, arising from our external environment, what we put onto our skin, exposure to chemicals, pollutants and climate. As well as lifestyle practises such as UV exposure, use of antibiotics, water pollution and so on. All these factors combined effect he skin (our largest organ) and the microbiome. What we feed our skin with topically has an impact on the diversity of the surface microbiome. Considering what we put on our skin, is as important as what we put in our bodies. Products made with natural, raw, nutrient rich ingredients is a vital component of maintaining and supporting our skins health.
Disruptions and challenges that effect our natural microbiome - directly effecting the natural vitality of our skin.
The health of the microbiome is often overlooked in mainstream skincare, so much so that many of the treatments and products that are pushed towards actually harm or strip away our natural microbiome, rather than support it. Caring for our microbiome is not only about what we put onto our skin, but also what we should avoid. Things to consider in your daily rituals, habits, health and chosen products are;
Foaming and other harsh Cleansers – Even “gentle” foaming cleansers remove our vital lipid layer, rinsing our microbe population down the drain. Not only that, but they are also removing their nutrient source and altering their habitat, leaving our skin’s vital barrier weakened and vulnerable. Our skin cannot replenish daily, which leads to a persistent state of vulnerability. Skin does not need to squeak to be clean!
Antibiotics –the word says it all: “anti” and “biota”, meaning “opposing life”. While sometimes unavoidable, their use eliminates entire microbe populations, impacting the skin’s microbiome. Antibiotics can’t differentiate between harmful and healthy bacteria, leaving diminished diversity. It takes time to restore the microbiome after large parts of the population have been removed. Using antibiotic ingredients for acne for example can be detrimental to microbe diversity.
Preservatives – The very nature of preservatives is to prevent bacterial domination, not distinguishing between harmful and beneficial bacteria, therefore the use of harsh preservatives, not only kills off harmful bacteria, but often the beneficial ingredients within a compound. Whilst it is important to use a preservative in a water based product or a product likely to come into contact with water, it is also worth remembering that not all preservatives are equal. For example, propylene and hexylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, parabens and tricolosan cause more widespread die-off of microbiome, whereas preservatives like potassium sorbate - are milder and biodegradable, making them not only kinder to the skin, but also our planet as well.
The advancement of over exfoliation, acids, peels and alcohols within the beauty and skincare industry. Over exfoliation disrupts the skin’s microbiota. Gentle exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and built up debris, dirt and grim, but there has been a real and notable push towards over exfoliation in recent years within the skin and beauty industry, through the use of acids, harsh chemicals, enzymes and treatments - all of which is damaging our skins natural barrier and micro biome. These Strong acids, peels, and alcohols are often sold as miracle cures for acne, break outs or helping to reverse the visible signs of ageing, but in reality they simply break down microbiota, deplete the ecosystem and leave the skin vulnerable. Chronic over-exfoliation hinders the skin’s immune system, which is important in managing inflammatory conditions like eczema, rosacea, and various forms of dermatitis.
Diet and Environmental Imbalances – Climate, extreme temperatures, humidity, and diet influence our microbiome. It is true what they say about eating a rainbow: diets high in vegetables reflect upon or skins natural vitality. We need fermentable fibres and beneficial bacteria for healthy skin, plus vegetables, berries and fruits also supply us with natural sources of antioxidants, nutrients and carotenoids which help support our skin against UV damage, pollutants and natural ageing processes. Excessive sugar and alcohol affect the gut microbiome, impacting the skin’s external microbiome. Whilst lack of sunlight and humidity can increase pathogenic bacteria growth. Air pollution also aids pathogenic bacteria growth. Ensuring what we put into our bodies as well as what we feed our skin topically can help support against disruption to our natural skin micro diversity.
Understanding the messages your skin is sending you:
The biology of our skin is such that our skin’s microbiome struggles to recover from disruptions, unable to replenish its natural lipid and moisture levels rapidly. With frequent disturbances, the microbiome faces chronic imbalance, allowing invasive bacteria to dominate. Maintaining a robust and diverse community of microbes is crucial to keeping our skin in a vibrant and resilient state and to preventing harmful, pathogenic bacteria from moving in and taking over – once that happens, it’s much more difficult to restore balance.
Signs your skin’s microbiome is out of balance and crying out for help:
Acne: increased occurrence of breakouts and congestion
Redness + Inflammation: persistent redness or irritation
Flare-ups of Skin Conditions: such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or dandruff
Reactionary Rashes: unexplained eruptions or skin rashes
Sensitivity: heightened sensitivity to skincare products or environmental factors
Oil Imbalances: fluctuations in skin moisture levels
Dull or Uneven Skin Tone: diminished vibrancy or uneven tone
Compromised Barrier Function: weakened skin barrier leading to skin vulnerability, generally present in itchiness and increase in one or more of the conditions listed above.
How to help heal your skin and restore balance
Restoring a compromised microbiome can often be as simple as adjusting a few skincare habits, such as minimizing the use of preservatives or harmful ingredients and adding more nutrient dense ingredients to further populate beneficial flora. Transitioning from a foaming cleanser to an oil-based formula for example. Reading the labels of your favourite skincare products and looking for tell tale signs of masking ingredients, rather than ingredients that actually feed your skin - such as PEGs, Parabens, Silicones and synthetic fragrances often marked as Parfum. Fully embracing a plant based skincare products can offer the quiet transformation your skin needs - without the fillers or masking ingredients that cover, but do not treat long term skin concerns.
Embracing skin food for your skin topically.
Switching to skincare that feeds your skin with natural plant extracts, high quality lipids and water solvable nutrients help to address skin imbalances. The microbiomes living on the surface of our skin need nutrients to survive and using skincare that is rooted in nature and bursting with nutrients is the best way to help support and restore balance and vitality to our skin. Resulting in long term skin vitality, rather than short term fixes. Whilst also supporting our skin through as we age and through different life stages.
Comments