Enjoy 20% Off Sitewide
Free Standard Shipping over $75
Skin Microbiome

Skin Microbiome 101: What It Is, How It Becomes Disrupted, and How to Take Care of It

Skin Microbiome

Skin Microbiome 101: What It Is, How It Becomes Disrupted, and How to Take Care of It

Updated: October 30th, 2024By Elena ToranoScientific Review by Juliana Durack and Larry WeissMaintaining healthy, bouncy skin is about more than just hydration and anti-aging creams. The secret to radiant skin lies within an invisible community of microbes on your skin, known as the skin microbiome. This delicate ecosystem plays a vital role in protecting your skin, influencing how it ages and responds to external stressors. While research into the skin microbiome is still developing, its significance is undeniable. Nurturing this microscopic network is essential to keep your skin resilient against pollution, UV rays, and the various products you use daily.In this article, we’ll delve into the basics of the skin microbiome, how it can become unbalanced, and practical ways to restore and maintain its health.

What is the Skin Microbiome?

Billions of microbes — including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms — inhabit the surface of your skin. Collectively known as the skin microbiome, this invisible layer contributes to several essential functions, including protecting against infection, UV damage, and premature aging. The skin microbiome also strengthens your skin’s barrier, reducing the likelihood of breakouts, acne, eczema, and sensitivity issues. It helps regulate your skin’s pH, neutralizes free radicals, accelerates healing, and produces vital nutrients like vitamins and biomolecules.

Why is it Important for the Skin Microbiome to Stay Balanced?

Your microbiome serves as your skin’s frontline defense, constantly exposed to pollutants, chemicals, harsh cleansers, and cosmetics. The sheer volume of ingredients in daily skincare routines can overwhelm and disrupt this ecosystem. While we have a lot more research to do regarding the long-term effects of this exposure, we know that maintaining a diverse, thriving microbiome is crucial for resilient, healthy-looking skin. A balanced microbiome creates a protective barrier, shielding your skin from harmful pathogens while maintaining its vitality.You can tell that your skin microbiome is in homeostasis when it’s free from redness, irritation, inflammation or other signs of distress.

What Happens When Your Microbiome Becomes Unbalanced?

Disrupting the skin microbiome can lead to various visible skin concerns, often triggered by environmental or lifestyle factors such as excessive antibiotic use, topical steroids, over exfoliation, sunburn, and more. Common signs of dysbiosis include:
  • Irritation and redness
  • Heightened skin sensitivity
  • Premature signs of aging
  • Inexplicable skin conditions
  • Blemishes and acne

What Has the Modern World Done to the Microbiome?

Our modern-day microbiome is not set up for success. An overuse of harsh chemicals and products, increased exposure to pollution, and a sterilized living environment have all contributed to a permanent change in our microbiome.Symbiome's proprietary research reveals that we have lost up to 80% of our microbial diversity as compared to the thriving microbiome of our ancestors.This means that our natural resilience has decreased at the same time that our exposure to harmful environmental and lifestyle stressors has increased. We now have a reduced capacity to produce essential biomolecules — including vitamins A, D, E, K, as well as phytosterols and CoQ10 — that contribute to our resilience and our ability to respond to stress.Our skin is intricately connected to our overall health — communicating important signals, from immune response to hormonal balance.

How Are the Gut and Skin Microbiomes Connected?

Your skin and gut microbiomes are more connected than you might think. Often referred to as the "gut-skin axis," research shows that imbalances in your gut microbiome, like a leaky gut, can manifest as skin issues such as acne, blemishes, and irritation. Keeping both microbiomes balanced through proper nutrition and skincare is essential for overall health.

How to Maintain a Healthy Skin Microbiome

We can’t go back in time and we can’t restore these missing microbes. However, we can restore the contribution of those lost microbes — namely all the great things they made for us.Symbiome is building a blueprint of what’s missing from our skin microbiome. We’ve used our proprietary research to develop a range of minimal formulations that work to restore the essential nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids (a.k.a. metabolites) that had historically been produced by these missing microbes.

How Long Does It Take to Change the Microbiome?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as every skin type is unique. However, you might start noticing improvements in your skin within a few days to weeks of adopting a postbiotic skincare routine and elements of a probiotic, whole-foods diet. If you have a chronic skin issue, it may take several months to restore visible radiance and soothed skin. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Microbiome-Minded Skincare

As scientific understanding of the skin microbiome grows, so does our awareness of how certain skincare practices can either support or harm this balance. Here are some skin-friendly practices:Do:+ Use gentle cleansers: Opt for minimally formulated, non-stripping cleansers that kill acne-causing bacteria, while protecting your skin's microbiome. A nourishing double cleanse is our professional recommendation for removing build-up.+ Incorporate prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics: Prebiotic foods, probiotic foods, and postbiotic skincare. You will provide metabolites that strengthen your skin’s defenses and help you glow from the inside out, and the outside in. + Simplify your skincare routine: A consistent, minimalist approach is less likely to overwhelm your skin and strip the biofilm.+ Protect against environmental stressors: Daily SPF and antioxidants, like Superoxide Dismutase and Vitamin E, protect your skin from UV damage and free radicals.Don't:- Aggressively exfoliate: Harsh exfoliants can damage your barrier and compromise your microbiome. Stick to gentle exfoliation to allow your skin time to regenerate. - Overload on active ingredients: Layering too many potent ingredients can cause a burning sensation, neutralizing benefits, and resulting in cross-reactivity. Space out your actives.- Forget to research your ingredients: Stay away from the laundry list of ingredients. There can be many hidden irritants like alcohols and fragrances which are known to imbalance the skin. 

Identifying What Your Skin Needs

To keep your skin clear and healthy, it's obviously essential to support the skin and gut microbiomes respectively. Our pioneering research provides you peace of mind: using Symbiome, you’re on the path to restore, complement and supplement a thriving microbiome. It’s time to invest in the long-term health, clarity and suppleness of your skin.
Updated: October 30th, 2024By Elena ToranoScientific Review by Juliana Durack and Larry WeissMaintaining healthy, bouncy skin is about more than just hydration and anti-aging creams. The secret to radiant skin lies within an invisible community of microbes on your skin, known as the skin microbiome. This delicate ecosystem plays a vital role in protecting your skin, influencing how it ages and responds to external stressors. While research into the skin microbiome is still developing, its significance is undeniable. Nurturing this microscopic network is essential to keep your skin resilient against pollution, UV rays, and the various products you use daily.In this article, we’ll delve into the basics of the skin microbiome, how it can become unbalanced, and practical ways to restore and maintain its health.

What is the Skin Microbiome?

Billions of microbes — including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms — inhabit the surface of your skin. Collectively known as the skin microbiome, this invisible layer contributes to several essential functions, including protecting against infection, UV damage, and premature aging. The skin microbiome also strengthens your skin’s barrier, reducing the likelihood of breakouts, acne, eczema, and sensitivity issues. It helps regulate your skin’s pH, neutralizes free radicals, accelerates healing, and produces vital nutrients like vitamins and biomolecules.

Why is it Important for the Skin Microbiome to Stay Balanced?

Your microbiome serves as your skin’s frontline defense, constantly exposed to pollutants, chemicals, harsh cleansers, and cosmetics. The sheer volume of ingredients in daily skincare routines can overwhelm and disrupt this ecosystem. While we have a lot more research to do regarding the long-term effects of this exposure, we know that maintaining a diverse, thriving microbiome is crucial for resilient, healthy-looking skin. A balanced microbiome creates a protective barrier, shielding your skin from harmful pathogens while maintaining its vitality.You can tell that your skin microbiome is in homeostasis when it’s free from redness, irritation, inflammation or other signs of distress.

What Happens When Your Microbiome Becomes Unbalanced?

Disrupting the skin microbiome can lead to various visible skin concerns, often triggered by environmental or lifestyle factors such as excessive antibiotic use, topical steroids, over exfoliation, sunburn, and more. Common signs of dysbiosis include:
  • Irritation and redness
  • Heightened skin sensitivity
  • Premature signs of aging
  • Inexplicable skin conditions
  • Blemishes and acne

What Has the Modern World Done to the Microbiome?

Our modern-day microbiome is not set up for success. An overuse of harsh chemicals and products, increased exposure to pollution, and a sterilized living environment have all contributed to a permanent change in our microbiome.Symbiome's proprietary research reveals that we have lost up to 80% of our microbial diversity as compared to the thriving microbiome of our ancestors.This means that our natural resilience has decreased at the same time that our exposure to harmful environmental and lifestyle stressors has increased. We now have a reduced capacity to produce essential biomolecules — including vitamins A, D, E, K, as well as phytosterols and CoQ10 — that contribute to our resilience and our ability to respond to stress.Our skin is intricately connected to our overall health — communicating important signals, from immune response to hormonal balance.

How Are the Gut and Skin Microbiomes Connected?

Your skin and gut microbiomes are more connected than you might think. Often referred to as the "gut-skin axis," research shows that imbalances in your gut microbiome, like a leaky gut, can manifest as skin issues such as acne, blemishes, and irritation. Keeping both microbiomes balanced through proper nutrition and skincare is essential for overall health.

How to Maintain a Healthy Skin Microbiome

We can’t go back in time and we can’t restore these missing microbes. However, we can restore the contribution of those lost microbes — namely all the great things they made for us.Symbiome is building a blueprint of what’s missing from our skin microbiome. We’ve used our proprietary research to develop a range of minimal formulations that work to restore the essential nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids (a.k.a. metabolites) that had historically been produced by these missing microbes.

How Long Does It Take to Change the Microbiome?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as every skin type is unique. However, you might start noticing improvements in your skin within a few days to weeks of adopting a postbiotic skincare routine and elements of a probiotic, whole-foods diet. If you have a chronic skin issue, it may take several months to restore visible radiance and soothed skin. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Microbiome-Minded Skincare

As scientific understanding of the skin microbiome grows, so does our awareness of how certain skincare practices can either support or harm this balance. Here are some skin-friendly practices:Do:+ Use gentle cleansers: Opt for minimally formulated, non-stripping cleansers that kill acne-causing bacteria, while protecting your skin's microbiome. A nourishing double cleanse is our professional recommendation for removing build-up.+ Incorporate prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics: Prebiotic foods, probiotic foods, and postbiotic skincare. You will provide metabolites that strengthen your skin’s defenses and help you glow from the inside out, and the outside in. + Simplify your skincare routine: A consistent, minimalist approach is less likely to overwhelm your skin and strip the biofilm.+ Protect against environmental stressors: Daily SPF and antioxidants, like Superoxide Dismutase and Vitamin E, protect your skin from UV damage and free radicals.Don't:- Aggressively exfoliate: Harsh exfoliants can damage your barrier and compromise your microbiome. Stick to gentle exfoliation to allow your skin time to regenerate. - Overload on active ingredients: Layering too many potent ingredients can cause a burning sensation, neutralizing benefits, and resulting in cross-reactivity. Space out your actives.- Forget to research your ingredients: Stay away from the laundry list of ingredients. There can be many hidden irritants like alcohols and fragrances which are known to imbalance the skin. 

Identifying What Your Skin Needs

To keep your skin clear and healthy, it's obviously essential to support the skin and gut microbiomes respectively. Our pioneering research provides you peace of mind: using Symbiome, you’re on the path to restore, complement and supplement a thriving microbiome. It’s time to invest in the long-term health, clarity and suppleness of your skin.