Why You WANT Bacteria on Your Skin for a Healthy Microbiome

Katie Wells Avatar

Reading Time: 8 minutes

This post contains affiliate links.

Read my affiliate policy.

Your skin microbiome- why you want bacteria on your skin
Wellness Mama » Blog » Health » Why You WANT Bacteria on Your Skin for a Healthy Microbiome

The gut gets the majority of the attention when we talk about the microbiome (even though your mouth has a vast microbiome as well!). The digestive system is home to trillions of organisms that can affect the body, but it is definitely not the only place these bacteria exist.

What Is a Microbiome?

Microbiome has become a household word! It refers to the mix of bacteria, yeasts, and parasites that live on your skin, in your nose and trachea, and in your gut from your mouth to your anus. The mix of those bacteria, yeasts, and parasites is closely linked to weight, mental health, autoimmune health, blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

Our bodies are ecosystems that harbor a microbial universe. Each of us has approximately 10 trillion human cells, 100 trillion bacteria, yeasts, and single cell protozoa (representing thousands of different species), and 1,000 trillion viruses in and on our bodies.

Scientists now consider the microbiome an important organ that helps us maintain the necessary metabolism to keep the chemistry of life running as effectively as possible. If properly tended, our microbiome can keep us lean, joyful, and pain free. But when our metabolism malfunctions, too many free radicals are made, inflammation increases, and our chemistry falters, leading to ill health.

Recent research shows that we may have an equally diverse and important microbiome in other parts of the body such as in the mouth and on the skin.

What Is the Skin Microbiome?

A microbiome is simply the collection of microorganisms in a particular place. The gut microbiome is the entire collection of microorganisms in the gut, and similarly, the skin micrombiome is simply all of the organisms present on the skin.

The term “microbiota” is also used to describe these organisms and specifically means: “the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space.”

Because research is proving the importance of the gut microbiome, many of us now understand how important it is to consume probiotic rich foods, and why overuse of antibacterial soaps is a bad idea for gut health. It turns out that these same factors also affect the microbiota on our skin and protecting it may be just as important!

In fact, most skin problems (from acne to eczema) likely affect the skin microbiome and may be a result of changes to this ecosystem due to modern lifestyle.

The Assault on Skin Microbiota

Our modern lifestyle assaults our gut microbiome through antibiotic overuse, consumption of foods that disrupt gut flora, and overuse of antibacterial products. These same factors can alter the bacterial balance on the skin and may be even more damaging!

The skin is under constant assault from environmental agents, harsh cleansers and soaps, deodorants, and even medications and cosmetics. Our obsession with cleanliness may be doing more harm than good for microbiota balance on the skin.

Like the gut, the skin is home to over a trillion organisms at any given time, including thousands of species of bacteria as well as viruses and fungi. (source) These all serve a purpose and are important for proper balance. Like the gut, when the balance is altered, it can create problems.

SALT: Skin Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Skin was once thought to be just a physical barrier from the outside world, though the existence of skin-associated lymphoid tissue shows that it is much, much more. I find these lymphocytes absolutely fascinating. Here’s why:

Researchers estimate that these lymphocytes exist on the skin in a 1:1 ratio with bacteria. The theory is that these immune cells are capable of sensing and dealing with a great deal of bacteria on their own. They also communicate with lymph nodes within the body. These lymph nodes carry immune signals to the rest of the immune system and help determine the body’s appropriate response. (source)

In short: your skin contains trillions of lymphocytes that are like soldiers protecting your body’s perimeter and radioing in information about approaching attacks to the main base (your immune system).

The Skin Microbiome Starts Before and During Birth!

A healthy skin microbiome appears to begin during and shortly after birth with a flurry of immune activity. Unfortunately, many of the modern practices surrounding birth may have a dramatic and unfortunate impact on gut bacteria.

Researchers at the University of California San Fransisco found that an important part of the skin microbiome is established within days of birth. Mainly, that within days of birth, there is a large amount of T-cell activity that creates tolerance in the immune system to the bacteria on the skin. This is a critical factor in the immune system knowing not to attack the normal and healthy bacteria on the skin.

Unfortunately, the wide use of antibiotics for mom during labor (and for mom and baby after birth) may have some big unintended consequences.

“One major clinical implication of this study is giving antibiotics to a child in early neonatal life is likely a disservice because this will limit the amount and type of bacteria that is seen by the adaptive immune system and this could be linked to the development of autoimmune, inflammatory skin diseases later in life,” said Rosenblum.

Logically, this could be part of the reason we are seeing a rise in skin related disorders and why the research in the movie Microbirth is even more critical! The research indicates that if this window is missed, it is difficult or impossible to recreate as an adult. (This is also a good reason to hold off on a first bath for the first few days of a baby’s life!)

Here’s the full text of the study if you want to read it.

Gut and Skin Microbiome Interaction

No part of the body’s microbiome exists in a vacuum, which is why it is important to continue to understand the different parts of the biome and how they interact. As the study above indicated, the skin is home to trillions on lymphocytes that interact with the rest of the immune system via lymph nodes. Just like the bacterial organisms in the gut, they comprise a valuable part of the immune system.

This also gives reason to rethink the overuse of antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps on the skin.

Are We Too Clean?

I’ve posted before about the importance of “good clean dirt” and how most of us aren’t getting enough of it. This new evidence suggests that our obsession with being “clean” may come at a big price for our microbiome.

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald explains:

A robust skin microbiome protects against infection or dysbiosis in much the same way a good gut microbiome does, by colonization resistance (i.e. crowding out overgrowth of pathogenic organisms) and by maintaining relatively acidic environment (pH is around 5.0), which inhibits growth of pathogens. Staphylococcus epidermidis, a major commensal bacterium, produces phenol-soluble modulins that inhibit pathogens such as S. aureus and Group A Streptococcus. Commensals can also inhibit inflammation through cross-talk via Toll-like receptors 2 and 3, and stimulate production of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin, which can kill bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The microbiome aids in wound healing, limits exposure to allergens and UV radiation, minimizes oxidative damage and helps to keep the skin barrier intact and well-hydrated.

Rather than thinking of the skin as a complex microbiome to be nurtured and protected, we often think of it as a static surface that needs to be clean. Over the long term, this may have a negative effect on skin health and even the immune system!

How to Nurture Your Skin Biome for Healthy Skin

While the bad news is that we don’t seem to have a good way to encourage proper immune system and skin bacteria interaction after the important newborn window, there are some things we can do to encourage a healthy skin biome in older children and adults.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Dirty

It may sound crazy, but in today’s world, we just don’t get enough dirt… or soil based organisms to be precise.

Think about this… for most of human history, we worked outside or interacted with the outdoor world in some way each day. Food came from the ground and while it may have been rinsed, it wasn’t “washed” and it certainly wasn’t irradiated like many foods are today. Through these interactions with the soil, we came in contact with soil based organisms (SBOs) that are natural strains of probiotics found in the gut and on the skin.

Now, we are deficient in dirt and don’t come in contact with these beneficial organisms enough. Heck, we don’t come in contact with anything dirty regularly.

Sure, we could take a probiotic supplement, but most of them don’t have the same strains of bacteria. Unless they are SBOs (also known as spore-forming bacteria) they may not survive the harsh environment in the stomach and upper digestive system to get to the small intestine.

What I do: I make sure to spend time outdoors doing activities like gardening and camping to get natural exposure to a variety of soil based organisms. I also take Probiotics.

Use a Skin Probiotic

Many of us take probiotics but few of us have ever thought of using a skin probiotic. I’ve experimented with this before by using a probiotic face mask made from yogurt, and noticed good results on my skin. Lately, I’ve also been experimenting with a probiotic skin line that has made my skin softer and not as oily.

Mother Dirt has a line of soaps, shampoo, and a body mist that are designed to not interfere with the body’s natural biome and to help restore the natural microbiome. So far, I’ve found them to work very well.

Avoid Antibacterial Soaps & Choose Biome Friendly Soap

Avoiding antibacterial soaps is as important as using products that support the skin’s natural microbiome. Triclosan, one of the most-used antibacterial ingredients in soaps, was recently banned, but others are still used.

At our house, we avoid antibacterial soaps and make or use natural soaps instead. I always keep natural liquid castile soap on hand since it is very versatile and works for over a dozen household uses.

There are also soaps and shampoos (like these) that are designed to not interfere with the skin biome. The Mother Dirt product contains ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) that research suggest may help restore healthy skin bacteria. (Cool fact- the majority of people who used these products found they could use fewer skin products and many stopped needing deodorant at all!)

I’ve written about the benefits of homemade soap on several occasions, and have even created several of my own recipes. You read more about those here.

Think About The Laundry

You may not be able to get pregnant by doing laundry together (as the old joke suggests) but it seems you can certainly exchange some microbiota that way. It’s crazy to think about, but you may share some of the skin bacteria with those in your household through the laundering process:

The laundering process caused a microbial exchange of influent water bacteria, skin-, and clothes-related bacteria and biofilm-related bacteria in the WM. A variety of biofilm-producing bacteria were enriched in the e?uent after laundering, although their presence in the cotton sample was low. Nearly all bacterial genera detected on the initial cotton sample were still present in the washed cotton samples. A selection for typical skin- and clothes-related microbial species occurred in the cotton samples after laundering. (source)

In other words- laundering clothes may make them smell better, but it won’t kill the bacteria they contain. The study also found that natural fiber like cotton, linen and hemp seemed to hold a more natural balance of bacteria while synthetic fibers harbored bacteria that were out of balance with the normal skin ecosystem.

TIP: If anyone in your family struggles from skin issues, it may be worth addressing the bacteria found in washing machines and clothes. Drying clothes in the sun, even just a few times, may reduce or balance the bacteria naturally.

Sweat Often

There is also evidence that sweat may contribute to healthy skin bacteria by serving as a prebiotic. Considering the other benefits of sweating (through exercise or sauna use), this one is an easy thing to add with a lot of other benefits as well.

Bottom Line

Our skin microbiome would love it if we could ditch the harsh synthetic and antibacterial skin products and stick to ones that naturally protect and replenish the skin’s natural bacterial balance.

This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Did you know all this fascinating info about the skin microbiome? 

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

26 responses to “Why You WANT Bacteria on Your Skin for a Healthy Microbiome”

  1. Jasmine Avatar
    Jasmine

    Is it okay if I post part of your article on my instagram account? I will include your link. Thanks!

  2. Corey K Avatar
    Corey K

    Is it safe to wash your hands with non-antibacterial soap when preparing and cooking foods like chicken, though?

  3. Brenda Avatar

    Help. My doctor wants me to wash with hibclens 2 days before my surgery. UGH How bad will that screw up my natural immunity?

  4. Sierra Avatar

    Just curious…do you have any thoughts on using microfibre cloths (like Norwex’s body cloths) in the shower? Or on Norwex in general? I’m new to the idea, and I think i like it for cleaning my house, just not sure I want to be using it on my body??

  5. nancy Avatar

    Hi Katie, Thanks for the great post. What are you thoughts on dry brushing the skin and how that affects the skin microbiome? Thanks!

  6. Lacey Avatar

    This is a fantastic article! Thank you for writing it! I recently started working with a company that has formulated a skin care line using prebiotics and probiotics with the express intent of healing the skin’s microbiome- I find the concept to be just fascinating and yet so intuitive when you look at the science 🙂
    I’ve been trying to explain to people the importance of caring for our skin’s microbiome, and you just articulate it So well here! Thank you again ???
    PS – I also really appreciate the encouraging of people to get outside and in dirt… we need more of that in our overly sanitized lives!

  7. cy Avatar

    Hubby and I have been in the hospital ALOT lately. They try to have you scrub and bathe with these packaged wipes that kill off all your bacteria. I understand there are infections in hospitals, but my worry is that by doing this it will be easier to catch one! Plus, I hate the chemical smell!
    For daily use lately I have been using olive oil soap made by Kiss My Face-the 3 pack. I LOVE this soap! It is made from water, salt and olive oil. I use it at the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and in the tub. This leaves my skin so soft, there is no prefumey smell, and it is so soothing.

  8. Joe Avatar

    I used to get really dry, itchy skin. So, last fall I installed a whole house chlorine removal system. Then, I took two ‘mud baths’. Good, clean dirt from a pristine forest where no pesticides or herbicides have ever been used. Soak in luke warm, muddy water for fifteen minutes, air dry and not shower for a week. I did this twice and also tried to reduce the number of times I showered each week.

    The results were great. The dry itchy skin went away. Forget the body lotions and just stop damaging your skin microbiome. Restore the natural flora.

    I also wash my laundry in “Free and Gentle” laundry detergent. Threw away the antibacterial soaps years ago. Only use toothpaste once or twice per month.

    I think showering less helps the skin maintain it’s natural oils better, and promotes a healthier skin microbiome.

  9. Leslie Avatar

    Katie, I have been putting probiotics on my face for the past few weeks, plus I made your Vitamin C serum and have used it along with cleansing my face with coconut oil. My damaged skin has been healing. I am so amazed with how wonderful my skin feels and looks! I am 45, and a few people have complimented me recently. Another thing I have done is I made a healthy homemade liquid body lotion and added probiotics to it. I’m loving the results of that also.
    Thank you for all of your wonderful, life-changing posts! I’m so thankful for how these healthy homemade products also help me feel pampered and taken care of, even richly blessed, in the midst of all the challenges of my life. May you (and your family) be blessed for all you do to share of your research, knowledge, and superb recipes!

  10. Lawrence Avatar

    Remember that even not all bacteria re bad, we still need to be careful. They can cause disease especially to those that are sensitive.

  11. Rhonda Avatar

    This is SO true. It is the same concept that I tell my customers about totally blocking their ability to sweat under their arms. Many deodorants with chemicals block your ability to detox by sweating.

  12. Noelani Boyd Avatar
    Noelani Boyd

    This is only loosely connected but I am so curious about your thoughts on topic of underarm hair removal via laser. I have friends who have done it. The convenience of never needing to shave under my arms again is appealing. Also, the cost of the procedure getting cheaper, and razors themselves are not cheap, so the idea is becoming more tempting. However, I have wondered if there could be longterm negative consequence to purposefully damaging your underarm hair folicles? Do you have anything thoughts on this? I realize this is a somewhat of a silly question, I realize, but I have no idea how to research this on my own!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I’ve actually wondered this too and found conflicting information when I researched it. I’m hoping to have a couple experts on my podcast in the next few months who should be able to answer that question.

  13. R. Reed Avatar

    Very interesting and informative post! I think it’s pretty ironic that the antibacterial craze that has happened in the last few years is actually not as good for us as everyone has been led to believe. There’s a family we know that uses hand sanitizer religiously, and they are constantly fighting colds, flu and illness. Wonder if that’s the link?

  14. Becca M Avatar

    I’ve heard that during the last trimester of pregnancy it is important to populate the skin (armpits and breasts) and in and around the vaginal opening with probiotics by actually placing probiotic rich foods on the skin on a daily basis to help build up good bacteria for the baby to be exposed to and build their immunity. Have you heard or read anything about this?

  15. Stefanie Avatar

    ………….finely someone thinking the same as I do. Society actually makes everyone abusing their skin by constantly urging everyone to “cleanse”. As I am getting older, my skin is getting much dryer and I use very little soap and use coconut oil instead for cleaning my face and my arm-pits. My skin is much smoother , more supple and not ishy anymore. I have a tube of coconut-oil, with a few drops of essential oil added, sitting on my kitchen-counter, bathroom-counter and by my sofa, so I can use it whenever I want. I had trouble with my fingernails getting very dry and peeling……..not anymore, since I massage them with coconut-oil. All thanks to you Wellness Mama ! Tank you very very much !

  16. Leslie Avatar

    Very, very helpful post! Thank you. I am thinking of sprinkling some probiotics into my daily application of body lotion. Katie, do you know if that would be appropriate for the body?

    1. Leslie Avatar

      Katie, I have been putting probiotics on my face for the past few weeks, plus I made your Vitamin C serum and have used it along with cleansing my face with coconut oil. My damaged skin has been healing. I am so amazed with how wonderful my skin feels and looks! I am 45, and a few people have complimented me recently. Another thing I have done is I made a healthy homemade liquid body lotion and added probiotics to it. I’m loving the results of that also.
      Thank you for all of your wonderful, life-changing posts! I’m so thankful for how these healthy homemade products also help me feel pampered and taken care of, even richly blessed, in the midst of all the challenges of my life. May you (and your family) be blessed for all you do to share of your research, knowledge, and superb recipes!

    2. Leslie Avatar

      Also, I have been struggling with pain in my nose. It is dry inside, and I even feel pain and warmth radiating a little to the outside of my nose. Yesterday I mixed a tiny amount of coconut oil and probiotic and applied inside with a q-tip. The pain and dryness subsided.

  17. victoria Avatar

    Sometimes I use Kombucha as a toner. I think it would be good for the skin but not sure. During the hot summer if I am outside I won’t or I will have a pesty problem. I don”t use yogurt because I can’t have dairy internally so I assume….Any thoughts on Kombucha on the face?

  18. Kneller Avatar

    Totally Agree with this. We need to get back to basics, get our hands dirty at times :).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *