What Your Skin Microbiome Is -- And Why You Should Keep It In Balance
WHAT IS A MICROBIOME?
Our microbiome is the collection of all microbes — bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that live on and in our bodies. You may have already heard of your gut microbiome and that if you keep it balanced and happy it helps your immune and digestive systems, prevents inflammation, and produces energy. Our skin has a microbiome as well and having a balanced skin microbiome will protect you from premature aging, acne, inflammation and irritation.
When the skin microbiome is healthy and functioning at its optimal capacity, it acts like a biodynamic membrane, constantly making decisions about what is allowed to enter the skin and what is blocked. A healthy microbiome will also trap moisture in, and keeps irritants and potential pathogens out.
WHAT CAN AFFECT IT
A lot of factors like environmental damage, your skin's pH level, the amount of oil in your skin, and how you use your skincare products all play a role in the balance and health of the skin's microbiome. The skin microbiome, found at the surface of the skin, is your skin's first line of defense against these factors. The other two are the acid mantle and lipid barrier.
Here is a list of things that affect you microbiome:
stress
lack of sleep
poor diet
lack of exercise
over washing or over treating with product
environmental damage
As far as products go, we recommend just practicing all things in moderation, don’t overdo it with acids, and make sure to moisturize!
HOW TO HEAL AND PROTECT YOUR SKIN’S MICROBIOME
Keeping your skin and gut microbiomes balanced and protected is a must for glowing skin and your overall health. Here are some ways you can do that:
Prebiotics / Probiotics: Just like your gut microbiome, the bacteria on your skin also needs to be nourished with pre and probiotics. The prebiotics help strengthen the good bacteria and the probiotics are live bacteria (the good kind we need) that promote a healthy ecosystem, and just like in your gut, we need these good bacteria to help to defend our skin against irritants. You can use a probiotic in the form of an ingestible (good for your gut and skin) or a topical (just good for your skin).
Ingestible recommendation: Kombucha or a supplement!
Topical recommendation: The Beauty Chef’s Probiotic Skin Refiner
Do not over wash: over-washing can remove all of the good bacteria, especially if you are using products with sulfates and parabens. Use a paraben free gentle cleanser and resist over washing.
Don't over-treat: be careful with harsh ingredients / products and be wary of irritating ingredients (synthetic or natural), such as preservatives, essential oils, and other chemicals, in the products you layer on after.
Balance the pH: our skin prefers an acidic environment to allow the good bacteria to thrive. To help return pH balance after cleansing use a hydrating mist. We recommend: Beauty Shamans’ Seawater Mist Toner
Exfoliate: once or twice a week use a gentle enzyme peel to remove dead skin cells and increase cellular turnover and to better prime your skin for product absorption.
Moisturize: use moisturizers that contain Hyaluronic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids and Ceramides which help to nourish the skin barrier.
Use a mineral-based SPF: replace your chemical sunscreen for a mineral-based SPF,to protect the skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays.