Skin and bacteria: protection or threat?
Instead of fighting "bad" microbes, it is worth promoting the spread of "good" ones
Healthy skin does not imply sterility. Skin microorganisms stimulate and develop our immune reactions, strengthen the barrier function of the skin, and provide direct protection against pathogenic microorganisms. So, how safe is the presence of bacteria on the skin, how can you protect yourself in the event of a threat, and is too careful hygiene harmful?
Every square centimeter of the surface of the human skin is inhabited by countless bacteria (from 115 thousand to 32 million microorganisms) belonging to a dozen different species. The source of their existence is the environment: the air we breathe, objects we use in our daily life, food, etc. Most bacteria live and multiply in the upper layer of the skin, using exclusively natural substances in the process of life, such as dead cells or sebum.
The surface layer of the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) is completely renewed every two weeks. Every day, about 100 million scales are exfoliated from the surface of healthy skin, of which 10% contain viable bacteria.
Skin microflora can be divided into two large groups:
- resident;
- transitory.
Full version of the access article in Ukrainian
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