Here’s How To Keep Your Skin Microbiome Balanced

It’s time to get back in balance with your skin microbiome. So what is the skin microbiome? It’s all the microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) that live on and inside of your body, including those that live in your hair and on your face! The state of this microbiome can have an impact on your overall health, including skin health. For example, if the bacteria on your skin are imbalanced (for instance, there are too many yeast or not enough Lactobacillus), then you might experience skin problems like dandruff or acne.

What Is The Microbiome?

The human body is home to hundreds of trillions of microbes, which collectively weigh as much as our brain and play a critical role in our health. Yet despite their size and importance, scientists know surprisingly little about these tiny organisms. The recently discovered field of microbiomics is leading a growing effort to better understand them. By analyzing microbe DNA from different areas of our bodies, researchers are learning how to identify problems early on and figure out new ways to treat diseases like cancer. The latest research also suggests that probiotics—good bacteria that can be ingested or applied topically—can help improve skin conditions such as acne and eczema by rebalancing your microbiome.

Does Skin Care Really Work?

You’ve probably heard that taking care of your skin from an early age will protect you from wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging. But do products really help? That’s a little more complicated. While some skincare products can help maintain healthy oil production, remove dirt and harmful bacteria, or improve elasticity in your skin, there isn’t strong evidence for their ability to treat specific conditions like acne or eczema. If you want to make sure your money is well spent on beauty products, look for ones with active ingredients backed by research. For example, if you have sensitive skin prone to breakouts and redness, avoid harsh cleansers with sulfates—which are commonly found in shampoos and body washes—and look for gentler formulas made with milder cleansers instead.

Why A Microbiome Diet?

You’ve probably heard of a gut-friendly diet, but are you familiar with a skin-friendly diet? The health of our gut and digestive system is often tied to that of our skin, and if they’re both out of whack, they may be giving us trouble. A healthy gut equals a healthy complexion—and vice versa. Here’s why: Your skin has its own microbiome, which means it has its own set of good bacteria that should stay in balance for optimal health (the same way our gut should). When we eat foods or use products that disrupt or damage our skin’s natural balance, it can throw off all kinds of processes in our body—like inflammation and stress levels—which also affect how we look and feel.

So what does an imbalanced skin microbiome look like? If you’re struggling with acne, redness, rosacea, eczema, or other inflammatory conditions on your face, chances are it could be linked to an unhealthy gut. In fact, research suggests that 75 percent of people who have one condition will have another! To rebalance your skin and turn things around for good (no matter what condition you’re dealing with)

Improve Your Skin’s Microbiome With These Foods

Add some of these foods to your diet and see if you notice a difference. Not all of them will work for everyone, but those with a history of breakouts may want to try especially high-sulfur foods like eggs and cauliflower. Remember, if it causes irritation or makes you itchy, then back off! You can also try probiotic supplements (more on that later). Keep in mind that antibiotics destroy good bacteria along with bad, so unless they’re absolutely necessary, avoid taking them. Your body needs time to rebuild its natural defenses.

Good Skin Comes From Within (Your Gut)

Having good digestion is key to having great skin, because many components that contribute to our complexion come from within—namely, in a healthy gut. As far as how probiotics can affect your skin goes, they help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms on your body’s surface. To give you some perspective: bacteria outnumber human cells 10-to-1 in our bodies alone! So when it comes to maintaining a healthy complexion, it’s important to make sure we have enough beneficial bacteria fighting off harmful ones. Probiotics are one way to do just that. They can be found in fermented foods (such as yogurt and kefir), or even added directly to food. They also play an essential role in supporting immune health and preventing disease.

How To Eliminate The Bad Guys Without Harming The Good Ones

Our bodies are home to millions of microorganisms. Some are good for us (like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria) while others aren’t so great (E. coli, streptococcus, staphylococcus). A healthy mix of both is what we should be aiming for, but certain factors can throw things out of whack. For example, stress, antibiotic use, and poor diet choices can cause harmful bacteria to grow in number.

To help maintain a healthy balance between good and bad bacteria on our skin, there are several steps you can take – Avoid overusing hand sanitizers: While it’s important to clean your hands regularly, sanitizers don’t just kill germs—they also kill beneficial bacteria. If you must use a sanitizer, try one that doesn’t contain alcohol or triclosan. Better yet, carry around some natural soap with you instead! Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. This will give you time to scrub away any dirt and oil from under your nails before rinsing away all traces of dirt, grime, and bacteria. Wash after coming into contact with someone who has a cold or other illness, as well as after touching raw meat or poultry. Try not to touch your face with dirty hands. The oils and dead skin cells on your fingers can easily make their way onto your face, which may contribute to acne breakouts.

Choose personal care products wisely. Look for products labeled non-comedogenic and oil-free if you have oily skin, or moisturizing if you have dry skin. These types of products won’t clog pores or disrupt your body’s pH levels. Be careful about using too many exfoliating scrubs and harsh chemical peels, as these can irritate sensitive skin and disrupt its natural pH levels.

Improve Your Skincare Routine By Incorporating Probiotics Into The Mix

Our bodies are made up of roughly 10 trillion human cells, but it’s estimated that there are at least 100 trillion microorganisms living on and inside us. This means that about 90 percent of our entire being is made up of microbes—both good and bad. In other words, you have more germs in you than actual human cells! So it makes sense that improving our microbiome (the balance between good and bad bacteria) can be beneficial for our overall health. But how exactly do we improve it? By incorporating probiotics into our skincare routine. Here’s why…

Your skin has its own microbiome, which contains both helpful and harmful species of bacteria (sometimes referred to as good and bad germs). Fortunately, most types of bacteria found on your skin don’t actually enter your body; they stay put on or just beneath its surface. Still, these small communities of bacteria play a big role in maintaining healthy-looking skin by helping produce new cells and keeping harmful ones at bay. In fact, research shows that probiotics may help treat certain inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. So if you’re looking for an easy way to take care of your overall health while improving your complexion, adding probiotics into your skincare routine is one simple step you can take toward better health all around!