The Skin Microbiome

Our mouths, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and skin normally have, on their surfaces, millions of resident bacteria, fungi, viruses as well as mites. In a normal healthy person, all these microbes may weigh up to 2kgs – this healthy, normal skin microbiome is a defence mechanism against pathogenic microbes and forms a chemical as well as an immunological barrier.

• Humans carry two species of Demodex mites and they mainly live in the pilosebaceous units (The hair follicle, hair shaft and sebaceous gland are collectively known as the pilosebaceous unit) on the face and at the base of the eyelashes in the hair follicle
• They are more numerous in patients with oily skin as they live on sebum and dead skin cells
• An overgrowth of the Demodex mites may cause Rosacea as well as Seborrhoeic Blepharitis i.e. eczema of the eyelids
• A bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes lives in the normal pilosebaceous unit on the face, especially in patients with oily skin

In acne, the top layer of the skin becomes sticky, blocking the hair follicles. This leads to the formation of blackheads or whiteheads on the skin. Due to this blockage, there is an overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes in the hair follicles, causing inflammation and the appearance of red pimples or pustules.

Treatment tips that can help with the Skin Microbiome

• Use skincare products containing prebiotics which are ingredients that stimulate the growth of the normal, healthy bacteria on your skin
• Use skincare products containing postbiotics which are by-products of probiotic bacterial fermentation and this would include lysates of denatured bacteria

Skincare ingredients that can help with the Skin Microbiome

• French Thermal Spring Water
• Lysates
• Denatured Bacteria
• Selenium
• Aqua Posae Filiformis
• Bifida Ferment Lysate
• Zinc PCA

Skincare products that can help with the Skin Microbiome

A healthy skin barrier makes for resilient skin and it takes a multi-prong approach to achieve this including the use of topical probiotic lysates to keep the skin microbiome balanced. Dr Webster recommends:

• Lamelle Skin Essence Clear
• mesoestetic anti-stress face mask
• La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
• Avène Thermal Spring Water