How to Benefit from the Bacteria on Your Skin

We would all love to have a luminous, glowing skin which of course helps to build our self confidence.

On the other hand, when we suffer from age spots, from wrinkles and from other skin conditions, our self-esteem can be badly affected.

When we try to treat such skin conditions, we might be wasting our hard-earned cash on those cosmetics and treatments that could make our skins worse.

It is not always about what is going on the outside our bodies...

Most skin issues are a reflection of what’s going on inside your body, not the outside, making it doubly important as to what we eat, what supplements we use, how much exercise we take and more.

We know that our skin is our largest organ, with the ability to soak up nutrients and detox unwanted toxins.

But did you know your skin is covered with trillions of bacteria that work together to keep your skin healthy and strong?

Changing to natural products will help our skin

• Using products that support your skin working with it and not against it.
• Using products that protects against pathogens and other bad bugs, while nourishing your skin with targeted, soothing ingredients.
• Using products that take care of dry, irritated skin, itching, and occasional rashes.
• Using products that help retain water, speed up new skin cell growth and increase skin tone.

  

More about that bacteria

The bacteria that inhabits our skin provide loads of benefits and then, without thinking, we go and strip it all off when we use harsh soaps and products with lots of artificial ingredients - often leading to dry skin, rashes and aging.  Most of us have learnt about the gut microbiome and the need for certain types of good bacteria in our digestive system.  Millions of tiny organisms dictate everything from how you digest food to your metabolism.

But our faces have good bacteria too.

So what is the microbiome on your skin?

 According to Jessica Weiser, MD of the New York Dermatology Group:

"Our skin's microbiome is influenced by a number of factors including internal health - such as antibiotics or processed sugar and carbohydrates - environmental toxins, and an assault on the dermis from harsh cleansers and soaps.  It's a potential explanation for why we have too many inflammatory skin disorders in the modern, developed world.  The skin microbiome defends against infection, aids in wound healing and limits exposure to allergens and UV radiation." 

 Apparently, the bacteria on our skin is an extension to our immune system so we should be careful not to constantly sterilize and destabilize this natural ecosystem. And cleansers are often top of the list of culprits.  So many commercial cleansing products are preserved with parabens, PEGs, 1,4-dioxane and polysorbate, helping to kill off anything that is alive.

Consider changing to a more natural cleanser such as our own Simply Cleansing Oil which is a gentle natural alternative to over-the-counter cleansers.  This fresh smelling gentle formula acts as an emulsifier with the skin's natural sebum and gently unclogs the pores, lifting grime and imbedded impurities without stripping the skin's natural oils.

"Good bacteria" on the skin should not be confused with bacterial skin infections

These bacterial skin infections are fairly common ranging from mildly annoying to life-threatening.  

Bacterial infections can look different depending on where they are located, the type of bacteria and a person's age. Most can be treated by your doctor.

They include:

• Cellulitis
• Erysipelas
• Bacterial Folliculitis
• Hot Tub Folliculitis
• Furuncles
• Carbuncles
• Impetigo
• Erythrasma and
• MRSA Skin Infections

Bacterial infections of the skin are common, and they can be hard to tell apart. While most aren't dangerous, they do need treatment and some can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.

If you notice what you think might be a skin infection on yourself or a loved one, be sure to see a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.