Struggling with irritation, redness, or stubborn breakouts? It could be a sign that your skin's microbiome is out of balance. But what does that actually mean? In this article, we take a closer look at your skin's complex ecosystem, where beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms work daily to protect you and your skin.
Your skin microbiome – shortly put
Your skin is your largest organ and your first defense against extraneous threats. It takes millions of microorganisms with various vital functions to keep it strong and resilient, including: strengthening your immune system, healing properties to treat damage, and protecting against infections.
These microorganisms are a complex collection of different types of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and more. These powerful microorganisms and their environment play a vital role in your skin's barrier function — meaning both how your skin feels and looks.
What can affect my skin's microbiome?
Your microbiome is affected by extraneous factors, including environmental factors like temperature, pollution, and especially UV radiation, which can affect the skin's top layer (epidermis). Other factors that can affect your skin microbiome are your genes, diet, and habits like smoking. Harsh ingredients and using the wrong products can also play a role in disrupting your skin's natural balance and diversity.
Your skin's barrier function
Your skin barrier (also called stratum corneum) is made of tough skin cells called corneocytes that are connected with lipids, which help 'build up' the protective wall that is your skin barrier. Not only does your barrier prevent harmful bacteria and toxic, environmental threats from entering your skin, but it also keeps water from evaporating.
Potential barrier disrupters include: too much sun exposure, harsh chemicals including allergens and irritants, mental distress, genetic factors (e.g. psoriasis), pollution, and humid or dry environments.
Your skin barrier is slightly acidic – and this is a very good thing. This acidic 'film', aka the acid mantle, plays an essential role in biological interactions that unfold in the skin's healing processes. It serves as a barrier against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful factors, keeping the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.
How can I restore a compromised barrier?
Tell-tale signs of a compromised barrier include the skin feeling tight, dry, and itchy. You can also experience rough or scaly skin, discolored areas, breakouts, inflammation, and skin sensitive to the touch.
Look for these key restoring ingredients:
Hyaluronic acid — a magnet for moisture that helps retain the skin's water balance.
Find it in our Daily Hydra Cream, 24-Hour Hydra Gel, Daily Mineral Gel, and Intense Hyaluronic Mask among other products.
Glycerin — a humectant that helps keep water in the skin and improves resilience. Find it in our Intense Hyaluronic Mask, Daily Foaming Cleanser, Daily Hydra Cream, and Vitamin Lifting Serum.
Ceramides — help moisturize and strengthen the skin's protective barrier. Find them in our Vitamin A Treatment Cream.
Niacinamide — a multipurpose power ingredient that soothes troubled skin while strengthening the skin's barrier function. Find it in our Niacinamide Lifting Mist and Niacinamide Repair Body Lotion.
Actibiome — an intelligent composition of special species of algae, plant extracts, and aquamarine that reduces redness and blemishes and actively restores the skin's pH balance and natural defenses. Find it in our 24-Hour Hydra Gel, Daily Hydra Cream, and Daily Hydra Cream Sensitive.
Conclusion: Keeping your microbiome healthy equals keeping your skin healthy
Your skin's microbiome can be viewed as your skin's environment — like a little village of helpful components that work all day every day to keep you and your skin healthy by supporting your skin's barrier function. The takeaway? To keep your skin healthy, you must keep your microbiome balanced and maintain a healthy skin barrier.