We all want to look and feel our best. Nowadays, many people are willing to spend a fortune to get a perfect, radiant, and fresh-faced appearance. When it comes to clear, glowing skin, what if we told you that everything you need is already within you, waiting to be discovered? The microbiome is a mysterious new acquaintance(s) you've never met before.
What is the skin microbiome and why is it important?
The microbiome is a term that refers to all of the micro-organisms that dwell in and around our bodies, including our skin. After skin comes into touch with the outside world (in a newborn baby), a wide variety of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacteria, and Cutibacterium, rapidly populate it. These bacteria that live on the surface of our skin help maintain a healthy complexion.
Having a well-functioning skin microbiome is similar to having a dynamic barrier. The skin microbiome functions by deciding what should enter the skin and what should not. A strong and healthy functioning barrier protects the skin from both inflammation and other skin conditions.
If, on the other hand, the skin's microbiome is weakened and unbalanced, skin issues can arise. Skin Conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis are very common but they can also show up as sensitive skin. Even early signs of aging in the skin, such as loss of suppleness, uneven tone, and wrinkles can be caused by an imbalance in the skin microbiome.
Skin type vs Skin condition
We're frequently quizzed on our skin type when picking out skincare products. Sensitive, normal, combination, oily, and blemish-prone are the common skin types that come to mind automatically. This is not incorrect, but it only tells half the tale. To fully understand the skin's needs and fill in the gaps in your skincare, you need to focus on skin conditions as well. The entire skincare industry is usually focused on targeting different skin types which can be damaging. People sometimes deal with both, oily and dehydrated skin!
Gut-Skin microbiome
In the past, we were taught that beauty is skin deep and that it extends beyond what we see on the outside. To be honest, that saying is spot on. When it comes to our skin, there is so much more than what we see on the surface. This is also where the microbiome comes into the picture. A close link exists between your skin (on the outside) and your gut (from the inside). But how is your skin microbiome related to your gut microbiome? Let us look into it.
How your skin suddenly develops pimples before the start of your period is an illustration of this phenomenon. This is a clear illustration of how the quality of your gut affects your overall health and well-being. Having trouble eating because you're apprehensive is a common occurrence, as is the appearance of stress marks on your skin. That is exactly how these two terms are related.
Our skin's microbiome may be overlooked if we don't pay attention to our gut microbiome. When you consume things like antibiotics to destroy all the bacteria in your gut, you may disturb the microbiome and it may affect the microbiome on your skin. Other things that disrupt your gut microbiome include excessive alcohol, eating processed foods, etc. Although it’s different for each person, the general things that support your gut, as well as skin microbiome, are consuming good fats, complex carbs such as wheat, barley, oat, colorful vegetables, and lots of clean water.
What damages the skin microbiome?
1.Overdoing your skincare
Over-cleansing and over-exfoliation of the skin might harm the microbiome of the skin. Applying or trying out too many skincare products at once can knock our biomes out of sync. Introduce new skincare products one by one and avoid layering wrong actives together. For example, do not layer your vitamin C in the same routine along with a glycolic acid serum.
2.Using wrong skincare products
If you’re using a cleanser that is harsh for your skin and is stripping your skin of its natural oils, you may be damaging the skin microbiome. To gently cleanse your skin without disturbing your skin’s pH level, we highly recommend giving our Daily Duet Face Wash a try! This might just be the product that’ll change your cleansing game for good. It contains mild surfactants and hydrating ingredients. The pH Level is balanced at 6, which is acidic, and similar to your skin’s.
3.Going into extremes
Things such as taking long, hot showers or using excessive anti-bacterial products such as wipes, and hand washes can be damaging as you are unintentionally destroying all the good bacteria too. Simply washing with plain water with a normal soap for 20 seconds can do the trick.
4.Randomly taking new supplements
If you're looking to improve the health of your gut and skin microbiome, you might want to consider using topical supplements like pre, pro and postbiotics. However, it is not always easy to navigate which supplements are right for you.
It is common for biotics on the market to make bold claims about their benefits, but it is prudent to verify these claims with independent clinical and scientific research before making any purchases. If that doesn't work, you can always see a doctor.
