Your Skin Microbiome

You might be surprised to know that your skin has its own microbiome. This is similar to our gut and like an eco-system on our skin. The microbiome is all over our skin; on our cheeks, eyes, neck, arms and legs. The skin microbiome plays a crucial role in preserving our youthful appearance, acting as an unseen ally in the quest for vibrant, healthy skin. By maintaining a balance of beneficial bacteria, the microbiome supports the skin's barrier function, protecting against environmental aggressors and reducing the incidence of inflammation, which can accelerate ageing. Furthermore, these microorganisms aid in the production of natural moisturising factors and antioxidants, contributing to skin hydration and resilience against oxidative stress, key components of a youthful complexion. Using good natural face products like ours at Nakin will help to keep your skin happy and healthy, as our range is made with lots of lovely plant ingredients that are beneficial to our skin microbiome. Likewise using harsh synthetic skincare can disrupt the delicate microbiome, which is just another reason that we recommend using natural skincare.

Disrupting our microbiome can cause skin issues like irritation, itching and dry skin. This is why we need to be kind to our skin and keep it balanced and healthy. The skin is the largest organ in our body, so it is important to take care of it.

The NCBI describe our skin as being colonised by microorganisms that are either harmless or beneficial to us. However, this colonisation is dependent on the ecology of the skin’s surface, which in turn is highly changeable in line with our environment, internal systems and lifestyle factors. So this means that we can work to maintain our skin microbiome by controlling these factors. At Nakin we produce natural face care which will help to boost skin, and there are many other ways to maintain your skin health and microbiome as discussed below. It’s all about not stressing the skin out as skin loves a holistic environment. Mind Body Green advise that our microbiome helps wounds to heal, minimises allergen and oxidative stress, keeps skin plump and hydrated plus also protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It is still an area of science that is not completely understood, but common sense tells us that we should treat our skin with respect and not damage our skin microbiome.

How to Maintain Your Skin Microbiome Health?

Our skin and microbiome are not the same all over our bodies. We have oily sites like our face and scalp, and then more drier areas like our hands. These areas of our skin are all affected by our skin's microbiome, which are the trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live on our skin. Vogue Magazine sought advice on this from Professor Carsten Flohr, a British Association of Dermatologists accredited consultant dermatologist. He specialises in eczema and has advised that the microbiome has a huge impact on our skin. It can shield against bad bacteria like sebum and also affects everything from how well products are absorbed, to the overall health of our skin. Being kind to our skin helps to keep our microbiome intact and healthy, which helps shield skin from stress and strain. We can help to boost our skin microbiome by following the steps below.

• Stay hydrated by drinking the right amount of water or herbal teas, as when we have enough water in our systems everything is able to function much better. This is also such an easy and affordable way to help our skin microbiome and whole health.
• Protect skin properly from the sun. This is just another reason why we need to take care with our skin when out in the sun. Science Direct advise that ultraviolet exposure will injure human skin and its microbiome, including bacteria and viruses. This is because it actually damages DNA directly and indirectly and has many long-term effects.
• Mind Body Green state that a good diet affects our skin microbiome in many ways. They recommend eating lots of good fats, proteins, carbohydrates and bright coloured vegetables. As well as minimising processed foods and sugar in the diet.
• Try to avoid taking showers and baths that are too hot, as this puts pressure on your skin.
• Use body washes and body lotions that do not contain harsh chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and artificial colours as these can strip skin and cause an imbalance.
• Use only natural face products as the microbiome on our face is different to the microbiome on other parts of our skin. Nakin’s Anti-Ageing Skincare offers natural targeted therapeutic face care that is specific to the face.
• Don’t overload your skin with unnecessary products as your skin just needs the basics like cleansers, toners, moisturisers and treatments. There is no need for a primer, face mask or to use more than one face serum in our routine.
• It’s essential to keep our hands clean, however, Mind Body Green advise that excessive use of antimicrobial hand sanitizers and washes can contribute to microbial imbalance and antibiotic resistance.

We hope that you found our feature on our skin microbiome useful. It’s actually quite a new area of skincare that we are always looking into at Nakin. To find out more about our award winning natural anti-ageing range then visit us at www.nakinskincare.com Our cruelty free skincare is all made in the UK and includes everything that you need for a natural face routine. Our cleansers, face moisturiser, lip, eye, serum and oil products are all kind to even sensitive skin.