Mud therapy may help replenish beneficial bacteria in the skin microbiome
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If you look at any square centimeter of human skin under a microscope, you’ll find it full of bacteria, fungi, mites, and viruses. As unpleasant as it may sound, the skin microbiome is an important defense against invading pathogens.
“With all these bacteria already present, it’s very difficult for pathogens to get a foothold,” he says. catherine o’neil, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester, UK, and chief scientific officer of AxisBiotix, a company that provides skin care products based on microbiome research. “Bacteria can also wage war against each other by secreting various chemicals that inhibit the growth of pathogens.”
trained immunity
The skin microbiome, along with the gut microbiome, also helps train the immune system during early childhood, teaching it to attack pathogens and ignore harmless stimuli. This could explain why people with more diverse skin bacteria are less likely to have allergies.
Beneficial bacteria on the skin may also be key to maintaining a smooth, wrinkle-free appearance. Our skin is like a fortress built of tightly packed layers of skin cells. Between the cells are lipids that keep the skin supple and plump, and certain bacterial species help replenish these stores.
“Cutibacterium stimulates the skin to stimulate sebum production, protecting the skin, reducing water loss, and increasing hydration.” holly wilkinson researching wound healing at the University of Hull in the UK. Staphylococcus epidermidis and thermophilus…
Source: www.newscientist.com
