What is the skin microbiome?

Thanks to a focus on the importance of gut health, more and more people are becoming familiar with the term microbiome.

Your gut microbiome is a big community of tiny, living organisms – good and bad bacteria – that populate your large and small intestines. But you also have other types of microbiomes, including an oral microbiome and a skin microbiome.

“Like your gut microbiome, the skin microbiome is the collection of microbes that live in and on your skin,” said Jason Rothouse, a principal research scientist for Amway with more than 20 years of experience formulating skin care products. “These include not only bacteria, but also yeast and fungi. A healthy skin microbiome helps your skin look healthy.”

Other names for the skin microbiome

You may have heard people refer to your skin microbiome by other names, including your skin microbiota, skin flora, skin microflora or your skin ecosystem.

All terms refer to the same community of little microorganisms on your skin that is important to your skin health and your overall health.

Role of the skin microbiome in skin care and overall health

Your skin microbiome is key to skin health. It functions as the primary barrier between you and the environment, and a balanced one prevents the growth of too many nonbeneficial microbes.

“Skin microbiomes play a huge role in skin health,” Rothouse said. “They create a microbial barrier to infections, teach our immune system to recognize a friend from an enemy and help maintain proper skin pH.”

A balanced pH level is also an important part of your skin health. If your pH level becomes too high or too low, that can also affect your microbiome. A high pH can lead to redness, oily buildup or acne while a low pH can result in dryness, lines and wrinkles.

When your pH and microbiome are in balance, you’re more likely to have skin that is clear, hydrated, and calm. When that balance is disrupted, bad bacteria start to take over and form a biofilm.

“Groups of bad bacteria congregate into a biofilm under a microscope,” Rothouse said. “These biofilms can contribute toward dryness, dullness, signs of aging or being prone to breakouts.”

Connection to the gut microbiome

Like your gut microbiome, if you have an unbalanced skin microbiome it can affect your immune response, which can lead to various skin conditions. And research shows that an unbalanced skin microbiome may affect the health of your gut microbiome.

Researchers are continuing to study the gut-skin axis, or how the two microbiomes can affect each other and your overall health.

How to improve the skin microbiome?

There are things you can do to support your skin microbiome, starting with a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and staying hydrated. You should also avoid over-exfoliating, harsh soaps and too many hot showers.

And, of course, you should have a healthy morning and evening skin care routine that includes pH-balanced products. Here’s an example of a microbiome-friendly skin care routine:

Morning skin care routine:

1. Cleanse gently
2. Tone and balance
3. Moisturize and SPF

Nighttime skin care routine:

1. Remove makeup
2. Cleanse gently
3. Tone and balance
4. Moisturize

It’s also important to choose your skin care products wisely. Artistry Skin Nutrition™ products feature various forms of white chia seed and are designed to be microbiome friendly. The toners contain prebiotics from white chia seed gel, for example, which support a balanced skin microbiome.

"All Artistry Skin Nutrition toners help reveal skin that looks healthy and radiant," Rothouse said. "And the Artistry Skin Nutrition cleansers and makeup removers are microbiome-friendly, so they won't disrupt skin's delicate microbiome under normal use conditions."

Want to learn more about taking care of your skin for a visibly healthy look? Check out more skin care stories on Amway Discover.