The skin’s microbiome is a diverse community of trillions of microorganisms - such as bacteria, viruses and fungi - that are present on the surface of your skin.
Your microbiome is essential to maintaining a healthy skin barrier as it helps reduce inflammation and protects you from infection. When unbalanced (a state that can be triggered by lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as factors like antibiotics and harsh skincare), it can lead to skin issues such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and aging. To keep your microbiome healthy, it is important to use gentle cleansers that will help protect the skin barrier, and to adequately hydrate your skin, both through topical forms of skincare and by drinking plenty of water.