Keys Soulcare’s consulting dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder dishes on the non-negotiables of caring for your skin.
– KEYS SOULCARE
ICYMI, our skin has been protecting us since birth. And while it doesn’t define us in total, it’s literally one of the most layered and essential parts of who we are and how we move through this world. (It also happens to be our body’s largest organ.)
As with so many aspects of soulcare, what we do to our skin means little compared to all there is going on inside it. And that’s where the microbiome (a.k.a. the increasingly buzzy term for the microscopic world happening on our skin’s surface) comes in.
Want to learn more? We’ve asked Keys Soulcare’s consulting dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder to break down all things microbiome — and why keeping it in balance is key to caring for our skin.
What’s “the microbiome” that the skincare community is talking about more and more lately?
Microorganisms inhabit various areas of the body, including the gut and skin, and are important in maintaining their balance. The microorganisms on the skin’s surface are collectively known as the “skin microbiome.” Research has shown that a disruption in its natural harmony can result in moisture loss [as well as] increased penetrations of environmental aggressors and allergens. This can result in visible redness and dryness, and may become a precursor to skin conditions such as acne.
How does this connect to what’s going on inside us?
The skin microbiome is important to maintaining harmony in the skin, partially through the maintenance of the immune system that we have within our skin. There is a relationship between the gut and skin microbiomes, and various skin diseases including psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema.
The human gastrointestinal tract is home to several different microbial species that colonize the entire lining of the gut. This system is influenced by our diet, personal genetics, and environmental factors like alcohol or medications. The gut microbiome is used to support the human body by producing vitamins, immune regulation, protection from pathogens, the lipid composition in the blood, and metabolizing food.
Do skin microbiomes vary from person to person?
The skin microbiome is like a fingerprint or a snowflake: unique to each individual. It also varies in composition depending on age and gender. This applies to the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. A recent Danish study that evaluated deeper layers of the skin in the hips and knees of patients showed that the microbiome in deeper skin layers is the same regardless of gender and age. (This implies that skin surface bacteria definitely plays a role in our overall health.)
What conditions within the skin microbiome lead to healthier skin?
The causes of acne are complex: they come down to an interplay between a lot of factors in our skin’s microbiome, not just one. Having a diverse and healthy skin microbiome is important, as is the role of sebum — a.k.a. oil — from our oil glands. (Drier skin promotes a more diverse microbiome; however, skin that’s too dry can also impair our natural [skin protection] barrier if we’re not careful.)
Our natural [skin] defense is an acidic exterior and an alkaline interior [around our organs] combined to protect against bacterial pathogens, both inside and out. So, this “acid mantle” of the skin also supports a healthy microbiome. The pH of our skin is between 4.5 and 6.2, and is made up of the oil our skin produces, mixed with perspiration. The pH of our skin increases (and becomes less acidic) with age.
What can we do to support our gut and skin microbiomes?
Current evidence suggests that the most effective way to improve the gut flora is [by] increasing dietary fiber, which increases production of short chain fatty acids by the gut microbiome and decreases the levels of certain toxic molecules. In addition, supplementation with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids also increases short chain fatty acid-producing bacteria.
Our Golden Cleanser, for example, is formulated with ingredients that restore the acid mantle and help keep our microbiome in check.
What other questions do you have for our resident skin expert? Share what you’d like to know in the comments!
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