The Skin Microbiome
Did you know that along with your gut microbiome your skin has a microbiome of its own?
All this excitement about the digestive microbiome and the skin is forgotten about. Skin issues have a huge correlation with hormonal imbalance in women, and with focus on the skin microbiome, a lot of these issues can be eliminated easily, by simply taking it back to basics.
Hormones can cause an overproduction of sebum in the skin, which blocks the pores in congested skin, and acne or large pustules can develop.
Hormones and your skin
Hormones cause an overproduction of sebum in the skin, which then becomes blocked in the congested area. As a result, acne or large pustules can develop.
Happy Hormones (HH) assists the deeper underlying causative factors of these skin issues and on top of a microbiome-nurturing skin routine, Happy Hormones will ensure long term radiant and glowing skin health. It's important to start from within, so you glow from the inside out. The true beauty lies within.
The skin contains an ecosystem of millions of diverse habitats with an abundance of folds, invaginations and specialised niches that support a wide range of microorganisms.
These microorganisms protect against invasion of more pathogenic organisms. They also have an imperative role in educating billions of T-cells – which are also found in the skin – and priming them to respond to similarly marked pathogenic cousins.
An imbalance in this ecosystem can be shown through a range of conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea. So often these conditions are treated with horrible antibiotics and antibiotic creams, which only aggravate and inflame the microbial environment on the skin – this just makes no sense, right?
Why would we want to kill off all the bugs that are assisting, nourishing and feeding our skin all the goodness it needs?
Nourishing your skin microbiome
Just like the GUT microbiome, it is so important that the skin microbiome is regularly nourished and supported. The skin microbiome is under more stress and pressure now than ever before, due to the increase in toxic body and beauty products. These include make-up products, body washes and body lotions, as well as toxic home cleaning products that also have a huge effect. Hand sanitisers are major culprits, too, as these toxic formulations kill not only the bad bacteria but all of the good bacteria as well – and we don’t want that!
Just like the gut microbiome, it is equally important that the skin microbiome is regularly nourished and supported. The skin microbiome is under more stress and pressure now than ever before, due to the increase in toxic body and beauty products, make-up products, body washes, and body lotions. Hand sanitisers are major culprits too, as these toxics sanitisers kill not only the bad bacteria but the good bacteria as well!
Happy Greens provide your system with a LIVE probiotic which can assist in nurturing your own skin microbiome. Many ladies also use them externally as a face mask to encourage natural healthy bacteria in the skin.
In a recent study of remote villagers in the Amazon with perfect skin, it was found that they have a range of skin bacteria that had become extinct in Western races. A particular bacteria was shown to protect against acne and skin conditions.
There are so many great non-toxic alternatives to skincare which preserve beneficial bacteria on the skin. It is so important to utilise these, to ensure the integrity and strength of your skin microbiome.
Some really great ways to nurture your skin microbiome include using non-toxic beauty, body and home cleaning products. Just this change alone will not only have a major positive impact on your skin microbiome but also your general wellbeing.
Keeping your skin regularly hydrated is another great way to nourish the skin microbiome. Things like coconut and macadamia oil are great, as they give the good bacteria beautiful sustenance to feed and thrive on.
Adding some therapeutic fermented coconut yoghurt to a luke-warm bath is another great way to nurture those beautiful bugs.
And lastly a skin bug favourite – creating your own toner using 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup of coconut Kefir. This toner recipe is super nourishing for the skin and will bring about a glowing complexion whilst killing off any nasty bugs on the skin at the same time.
The other important consideration is your skin reflects your internal health, and especially the health of your elimination system.
By improving your digestive health and liver function in particular, the skin starts to radiate. The simplest and most effective way to do this is to include natural probiotic foods and eat a clean diet devoid of processed foods and chemicals.
Following the 28 Day Detox is the perfect way to reset your system and at the end of the program, your skin will be glowing and healthy.
Nurturing your skin microbiome is a fantastic way to improve and maintain fabulous skin health and hygiene. When it comes to the health of your skin microbiome, it’s imperative that you address both external and internal health at the same time for the best and most nourishing results. Try some of these skin-nourishing practices and let us know how they go for you.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in contact with the Happy Healthy YOU team – we are here to help and support you on your journey.
REFERENCES
Grice, E, Segre, J. The Skin Microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiology. 3 January 2013; 9(4) 244-253.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/
Lunjani, N, Hlela, C, O’Mahony, L. Microbiome and Skin Biology. Curr Opin Allergy Clinical Immunology, 19 August 2019; 19(4), 329-333.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31107258/
Sfriso, E, Egert, E, Gempeler, M. Revealing the Secret Life of Skin. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. April 2020; 42(2), 116-126.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7155096/
