LESS IS MORE!
The invisible layer of microbes covers our body’s skin (containing about 1 million microbes for 1cm square!) is part of our human microbiome.
The vast amount of it is bacteria, and the rest are fungi and viruses.
This is a complex ecosystem.
The establishment of the microbiome starts when we are born.
Kristin Neumann, is the founder of MyMicrobiome and a passionate scientist with a PhD in Microbiology. Her professional career, via molecular biology and research on an antibiotic alternative, brought her to the realization of how vital an intact microbiome is for the individual.
Do we need it?
It protects our skin like a shield.
It interacts with the skin immune system and encourages the production of anti-bacteria against pathogenic microorganisms.
It shapes the body physiology - pH levels and production of sebum (the natural oil that our skin produces)
What influences the microbiome?
Besides the given condition of our genetics, our lifestyle plays an important role here. We start at our birth (a caesarean section or natural birth) and change throughout the first year of life. Later on, tress, hygiene behavior, sports and more, all have a significant impact on the formation of the biome.
Our diet plays a significant role.
Are you surrounded by pets? Do you live in nature or a polluted city?
A microbiome is located on the skin and in our mouth, stomach, intestines, and in our respiratory system.
Our microbiome is already very distracted by our modern lifestyle (living indoors, antibiotics usage, processed food, sugars consumption). As a result, we have many allergies, acne and more.
Our skin is the largest organ, which functions as a physical barrier against the environment (UV, toxins…)
We still don't know enough about it. The science is still young and finds the skin microbiome just as complex as the gut microbiome.
The research is progressing.
What can we not harm our microbiome?
Kristin Neumann says, “It starts at birth. Is it a natural delivery? Human milk for feeding a baby is preferred.
It is essential to have a diverse diet, unprocessed food, fresh air, and exercise in nature.
Don't over-wash your body, don’t over-sanitize your home and... get a dog!”
In terms of skincare?
We should lessen the usage of soap (especially on the face).
We can use products that respect and try not to harm the healthy microbiome balance.
We can aim to minimize the use of fragrances and use milder surfactants and preservatives as much as possible.
Less is more - less ingredients in a product, as well as fewer products, to apply on your skin.
An oil-based product is a better choice as it probably contains fewer preservatives.
The research has just scratched the surface of this fascinating subject, but the google searches for “Microbiome skincare” have risen 700% last year.
The interest in the skin microbiome and its implications is currently very high.
