Why Having Bacteria On Your Skin Isn’t So Bad After All

By: Emily MacHale

Did you know that your favorite soap or that great smelling lotion you love to lather on could eventually impact your skin microbiome? Just as the foods we eat can change the way we feel and the overall health of our gut microbiome, what comes in contact with our skin can contribute to unwanted skin conditions and issues.

As humans, our surrounding environment has always taught us thatthe world around us is dirty, leading us to over indulge in cleaning habits, sanitization, and anythingwe can get our hands on to be the most sterile as we can be. Turns out, what has always been the norm might actually be causing more harm than good, and could be the reason some experience flare-ups of skin conditions and diseases. Our skin is constantly under the pressure of enduring severe ecological threats and could be causing the skin microbiome unnecessary damage.

Therefore, getting a little “dirt on your shoulders” would not be the worstthing in the world and choosing to use natural soaps versus antibacterial soaps can contribute to a healthy skin microbiome. There are a number of differentlotions, soaps, sun screens, shampoos, and beyond that society could be using to preventthemselves from these unfortunate skin conditions and ultimately other health diseases that could stem from them. Incorporating soil-based organisms into your lifestyle by either spending more time outdoors or even investing in a skin probiotic could leave a positive mark on our microbiome as a whole.

MAKING PROGRESS

Integrium is heavily invested in the microbiome space and is currently running a number of dermatology-based and fecal replacement studies. Having a better understanding of the microbiome is importantto knowing how heavily involved itis within the numerous existing genetic diseases. Various genetic diseases require each their own unique approach, and understanding the ins and outs of the microbiome can impactthe way we tackle these innovative drug development goals. Integrium Executives will be in San Diego during the Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Forum on November 2-3, 2017. To request a one-on-one meeting, please contact Emily MacHale, Emily.MacHale@integrium.com or Mike Loftus, Mike.Loftus@integrium.com.

For more information on Integrium’s microbiome clinical studies and initiatives,
please visit us online at:

MICROBIOME EXPERTISE