What the microbiome is, what influences it and why it's important

The key job of the microbiome is to the body digest, absorb nutrients, develop an immune system and protect against harmful pathogens. When it comes to the skin though, the microbiome can influence skin hydration, protect from pathogens, balance the pH, assist in wound healing and maintain skin barrier.

Influencers of the Microbiome

The microbiome influences what is happening on the skin. But what influences the microbiome?

1. Genetics. This is a major contributor to just how the skin is in a general sense.

2. Diet. The diet can have a lot of influence on the skin. Sugar in the gut affects the skin, as well as high carbohydrates and high fat.

3. Lifestyle. If you are overly cleansing or exfoliating, going into the sun without sunscreen, etc. these will all affect the microbiome.

4. Medication. Medication is so important especially when dealing with anti-bacterial. Antibiotics can completely destroy the gut.

Microbiome Damage

It's important to have a healthy gut, but what can cause a gut to become imbalanced? When it comes to what can cause damage to the microbiome.

• UV Exposure

• Excess Exfoliation

• Harsh Cleansers

• Psychological Stress

• High Sugar Diet

• Stress

• Antibiotics

Skin Conditions

When people say the microbiome affects the skin, sometimes they don't realize the extent of that. An imbalanced microbiome and unhealthy gut can actually trigger skin conditions including:

• Psoriasis;

• Eczema;

• Allergies;

• Acne;

• Poor wound healing;

• Skin ulcers;

• Actinic keratoses;

• Dandruff;

• Yeast;

• Fungal infection;

• Rosacea;

• Accelerated aging;

• Folliculitis;

• Squamos cell carcinoma.