The skin microbiotaThe skin is a real organ capable of creating its own conditions of survival and defending itself from external aggressions. But if this organ is so powerful, it is largely thanks to a legion of billions of micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites and parasites) invisible to the naked eye, called the microbiota, which cohabit in harmony with our body and participate in its defense against external aggressions. Each cm2 of the skin contains 1 billion bacteria and hundreds of species colonize the skin permanently. The microbiota varies from one person to another, it is a real identity card! There is a microbiota specific to each skin and a microbiome - all the genes present in a microbiota - specific to each human being, as important as the genes in our chromosomes. Each individual carries 100 times more bacterial genes than human genes. Its discovery makes it possible to explain certain body odors, various irritations on the surface of the skin, the side effects of certain substances, etc.Researchers are still discovering new microorganisms today and challenge themselves to understand the precise role of all these hosts.But how can these micro-organisms be at the origin of the good health of our skin? How does this skin microbiota work and why is it so important to take care of it? We will explain everything to you…NABILADecember 20211. Skin microbiotaYou have probably already heard of the microbiota, in particular the intestinal microbiota known as intestinal flora... It is this set of bacteria present in the stomach and intestines that maintains your health by playing a major role in the immune responses to infections that could touch you.The cutaneous microbiota has globally the same action but focuses on the skin and fights against inflammations and cutaneous infections. Also called cutaneous flora, it is mainly located in the epidermis and gradually develops with age, reaching up to 1000 billion bacteria and no less than 1000 species of virus! These figures can make you dizzy, especially when you think of the harmful aspect of what we commonly call "bacteria" and "viruses"... But don't worry, most of these bacteria are, on the contrary, nuggets for our skin!So how do they contribute to the health of our skin? We must first turn to the microorganisms that make up this skin microbiota.It includes two types of bacteria, commensal bacteria which are a gift from nature and pathogenic bacteria which can be harmful and cause disease. Everything is a question of balance, you need a happy medium to maintain the proper functioning of the skin microbiota. Commensal bacteria are those good bacteria that will protect us from pathogenic bacteria thanks to their antimicrobial properties and play a role in the immune responses of the skin to control skin infections. Commensal bacteria are far from being a fixed and liable flora, they communicate with each other via remote chemical messages which allow them to trigger a common action. For them, our skin is a reserve of food in the form of lipids and proteins. In return, it secretes a moisturizing material, a film that prevents our skin from drying out, cracking or opening a breach to microscopic invaders.Irritated skin, with redness and pimples can be a sign of a weakened skin microbiota because its commensal bacteria are not numerous enough to counter its pathogenic bacteria.The balance of this cutaneous microbiota is therefore particularly fragile, especially since it will evolve according to several environmental factors and also its own micro-environments which are the dry areas, the humid areas and the oily areas, rich in sebum, located mainly on the face. So many areas that will require special attention to preserve your skin flora...2. THE SKIN AND THE CUTANEOUS MICROBIOTA, A PERFECT SYNERGYOne cannot function properly without the other...The microbiota, the skin's first defense barrier, lives in perfect symbiosis with the skin. These two entities will thus cooperate against the development of pathogenic bacteria in order to limit skin infections and promote their healing.The microbiota and its commensal bacteria will form a first barrier that will prevent the germs of pathogenic bacteria from attaching to the epidermis. If ever certain harmful germs nevertheless manage to cross this barrier, they will be destroyed by the cells of the epidermis which will counter-attack by synthesizing toxic molecules, bacteriocins. This process will produce antibodies that will act as antibiotics to kill these bad bacteria.But that's not all, if the upstream work of commensal bacteria and the epidermis is not enough, the variation in acidity generated by the hydrolipidic film of the skin will slow down the proliferation of germs produced by pathogenic bacteria. . Finally, the skin will produce immune cells that can protect it from possible infections caused by these bad bacteria.Suffice to say that this perfect harmony leaves little room for inflammation and skin infections… provided that the cosmetic treatments respect this harmony.3. HOW TO MAINTAIN THE BALANCE OF THE SKIN MICROBIOTA?It is essential to take care of and ensure the health of the skin microbiota. This cutaneous flora, intimately linked to the skin, is indeed affected by the desquamation of the skin which allows its constant renewal but also by the use of aggressive care products that you use, in particular to cleanse your skin.As you know, cleansing the skin is essential in the evening to eliminate all the impurities accumulated during the day - pollution, sebum, sweat, dead cells, etc. - which deteriorate the skin flora, clog pores, dull the complexion and limit the absorption of your care.Given the fragility of this skin flora, it is therefore essential to choose a cleanser that respects this flora, that is to say that the ingredients which have the function of cleaning are soft, of plant origin and above all endowed with principles rich active ingredients to enrich or preserve this flora. It is exactly in this spirit that we have formulated our Pure Wonder Multi-Action Lotion, made with fresh juice fromAloe vera and D'orange blossom water steam distilled; two active ingredients that strengthen the good bacteria. Of course, if you wear intense or persistent make-up, the prior use of theSacred Philtre make-up remover oil is essential. Here too, as you know, our make-up remover oil will differ from the others by a composition based on real vegetable oils and a super-soft surfactant that is therefore absolutely non-abrasive. The latter induces a method of use of our make-up remover oil different from other oils but on the other hand ensures a real care for your cutaneous flora and your skin. hydrolipidic film.Above all, avoid cleansing the face with soap, which will alter the surface skin lipids that play a major protective role. Indeed, the majority of soaps have a strong surfactant and/or a pH greater than 7 which is therefore too high and harmful for the skin microbiota, which can thus cause skin inflammation.However, some skin diseases linked to a disruption of bacterial diversity such as acne, atopic dermatitis or even psoriasis cannot be regulated by cosmetic treatments and must be taken care of by a dermatologist to obtain a real cure. We will tell you about it in a future article in which we will involve a dermatologist who can enlighten us on the various skin problems and their treatment.