Over the past few years, you’ve probably heard of the microbiome in every wellness media outlet out there – especially its relation to the skin barrier. However, it can oftentimes be difficult to really grasp what your microbiome is. Fairly enough, the skin microbiome has been an emerging research field for about 2-3 decades. In result, the research on this field has opened up many clinical studies and tissue model tests that depict a link between the skin microbiome, and many other microbiomes around your body, like the gut microbiome. Here, we are enamored with microbiome research and its ability to reveal behaviors and interactions between different body systems. So of course, we’re breaking it down for you below.

 

1. What is a microbiome?

We like to break down somewhat “scary” scientific words into digestible roots words. In this case, micro = extremely small-scale (like microscopic), and biome = environment. Think biomes, like different climate environments all over the world (tropical vs desert vs tundra). Therefore, we can assume that a microbiome is a small environment on your body.

2. What is it made of?

Typically, your microbiome is made out of an ecosystem of teeny tiny bacteria. While a lot of “bad” bacteria exists that can get you sick, we actually carry a lot of “good” bacteria all over our bodies that are essential to maintaining important processes to their specific body part.

3. Why is it important?

Because a microbiome is a small environment on your body composed of bacteria, we (along with research) can conclude that each microbiome on your body is specialized to that specific area. Your underarms have their own special little microbiome (hence the odor that can occur from bacterial imbalance in that area), your vulva area has its own microbiome (full of lactobacillus bacteria), your facial skin has its own microbiome, your gut has its own microbiome (also full of lactobacillus bacteria…;)), and so much more.

4. Why does this matter?

As mentioned above, each area has its own special microbiome. However, there’s a lot of overlap of bacteria in each microbiome. For example, your vulva area, gut, and skin all have a ton of lactobacillus bacteria. Therefore, your different body systems can actually communicate with each other through the bacteria that they share. This is an example of a body axis.

Furthermore, we like to focus on the emerging research data that shows that your skin microbiome is its own layer of the skin barrier. This piece of data has been the driving force of our skincare research, as we find more exciting ingredients and technologies to optimize our products to accommodate this important layer of the skin.

If you’re interested, apply to our DOTCOM (our exclusive social community) to test these exciting new products and to get a behind the scenes look at our process ☻