The Skin Microbiome: Skincare and Cosmetics

While the state of the current pandemic has restricted the ability to socialize to any great degree, it may turn out to be beneficial for the skin microbiome. Be honest. If you don’t have to go to work or out into the public, do you still maintain the same personal grooming practices? Do you put on all your makeup? Based on what people say in virtual meetings, the answer is no. Why is that beneficial for the skin microbiome?

The final potential insult to our skin microbiome is from products we willingly use. Most people apply some form of skincare and/or cosmetic products every day, plus deodorant or anti-perspirant, haircare products, moisturizers, and a plethora of make-up products. Here’s the key point: most of these products contain anti-microbials to maintain the safety of the product before use. That means when applied to the skin, they could also impact the microbiome of the skin.

After reading a review article on the state of research on the entire gamut of skincare products, several researchers outlined the type of research that should be done. While encouraging, that means that not much has been done. I couldn’t find any research that directly examined the impact of skin and cosmetic products on the skin microbiome. We just don’t know.

Strategies for Healthy Skin

There are several things we can do to indirectly help our skin.

• Drink one-half your body weight in ounces of liquid every day.

• Take 1 to 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids every day. There are many reasons to take your omegas, but one is to help reduce the production of inflammatory hormones.

• Take a probiotic with several types of bacteria with a prebiotic every day. They contribute to a healthy immune system and internal microbiome.

• There are several supplements that may also contribute to the health of the skin including biotin, vitamin C, and collagen. They may not affect the skin’s microbiome, but starting with a healthier surface may be beneficial.

• Regular exercise increases blood flow to all areas of the body, including the skin. That can deliver nutrients and help remove waste products.

The Bottom Line

Our skin microbiome is part of our first line of defense against microbial invaders. At this point, there’s not enough research to know whether the skincare routines we’ve become accustomed to are beneficial, harmful, or at least neutral. Is that worth stopping all skincare and cosmetic products? Should we stop taking showers? I don’t think we need to do any of those, but if we start paying more attention to the products we use and make better choices in selecting them, that may give us an edge while science catches up with this amazing part of our immune system.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Apr;42(2):116-126. doi: 10.1111/ics.12594.