We are all our own ecosystem. Perhaps a somewhat scary thought, but there are just as many bacteria in us and on us as there are cells in our bodies. But don't worry, these little helpers are essential to keep the functions of your entire body running smoothly. Find out here what exactly happens on our skin and inside us, how you can promote or restore the balance of your ecosystem and what pH-value has to do with it!

1. microbiome of the intestine: known immune support
2. microbiome of the skin: bacterial power from the outside
What is the skin microbiome?
What does the pH-value have to do with the microbiome?
Out of balance - what to do?
3. 5 tips for a balanced microbiome

1. gut microbiome: known immune support

It is now well known how important our intestinal flora, i.e. the types of bacteria found there, are for us. A healthy gut is crucial for a well-functioning immune system, as it is here that the immune system is tasked with fighting foreign bodies, viruses and bacterial intruders. Our "good" intestinal bacteria are responsible for this. Among other things. In holistic approaches to psychology, mental treatment is often supported by a special diet plan that builds up and strengthens the intestinal flora. Why? Because the gut and our brain are in close contact with each other via messenger substances. For example, it has been found that a disturbance of the bacterial cultures in the gut has a negative effect on patients with depression. And vice versa, the mental suffering of patients also affects the health and functionality of the intestinal flora. You may have heard or experienced for yourself that people who suffer from depression or similar mental illnesses fall ill more often. This is due to a reduced immune system because the intestinal microbiome cannot function properly. In order to compensate for this imbalance, a holistic treatment approach is used to create a diet plan that includes the intake of pro- and prebiotic bacteria in addition to other measures, such as avoiding sugar or simple wheat.

As you can see, a healthy gut keeps us and many of our body's important functions running smoothly! But now let's move on to a much less well-known microbiome, which is unfortunately all too often underestimated and given far too little attention and care. But not with us!

2. microbiome of the skin: bacterial power from the outside

That's right, our largest organ is its very own microbiome. With all the knowledge we have already been able to pass on here about the skin, I think this is yet another exciting new fact! But let's start from the beginning:

What is the skin microbiome?

The development of the skin microbiome begins at birth. Regardless of how the baby is born, it absorbs bacteria via the mother and thus lays the foundation for its own microbiome. From then on, various environmental influences play a role in the development of the skin microbiome. Things that the infant comes into contact with strengthen the skin flora. Incidentally, bacteria enter the intestines via the mouth and this also builds up and strengthens the intestinal flora. So it's best to let your child explore its environment. It is incredibly important that we are exposed to as many different types of bacteria as possible at such a young age so that our microbiome can develop well and our immune system can function properly later on. Over the course of our lives, geographic location, sun exposure, stress, diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption also play a role in how our skin flora develops.

In fact, research into this microbiome has only been going on for about 10 years, but there are already some very interesting findings. For example, it has been discovered that a different mix of bacteria occurs depending on the part of the body. Which type of bacteria feels most comfortable where depends on whether the skin in that area is oily, dry or moist. But no matter where they are located, they fulfill enormously important tasks. They support various metabolic processes as well as wound healing and Protect prevent "bad" bacteria, viruses and other intruders from entering our body via our skin and wreaking havoc. They do this, for example, by producing proteins that are deadly for these foreign organisms as they act like antibiotics Treat. However, the influence of our good bacteria also reaches deeper into the lower layers. This is where we find immune cells that are equipped with receptors and fight off unwanted intruders on command. Our skin flora protects us from diseases and infections in the same way as our intestinal flora and coordinates our immune system.

I don't know about you, but my skin now feels even more like a super organ that doesn't just hold me together and catch my summer tan. It's quite amazing what happens on a microscopic scale! But all this raises the question: What happens when the skin microbiome is disturbed? What factors throw it out of balance and how do we get it back into balance?

What does pH-value have to do with the microbiome?

First of all, we need to understand what balance actually means in the case of skin flora. This is where pH-value comes into play. You may have noticed that we always show the pH-value of our products on the product detail page. The pH-value is crucial for a functioning skin barrier and healthy skin flora, as our bacteria need an optimum value in order to survive. This optimum lies in the slightly acidic range of 4.8-5.5. In this environment, the bacteria of our microbiome can ideally produce the antimicrobial molecules that ward off attackers. However, a person's entire body does not have the same pH-value. It varies slightly depending on age and body part. The sweat and sebum from our glands determine the pH-value and form the skin's protective acid mantle, which we often talk about here. This acid mantle serves as a kind of buffer between germs and bacteria that want to change the skin's pH-value from the outside and thus disrupt the flora. Incidentally, Ceramides, which are also produced as well as possible in a slightly acidic pH-value environment, are absolutely essential for the skin barrier. They are part of our skin lipids and help to keep our skin tight: Moisture is stored better and pathogens have an even harder time getting in, even if they have already broken through the front of the acid mantle.

A stable pH-value is therefore necessary to keep skin functions intact; to strengthen the immune system, keep the moisture balance stable and support bodily functions.

Out of pH balance - what to do?

The pH-value is therefore the environmental condition of our skin flora. If this condition changes and becomes too acidic or too alkaline, the skin flora is vulnerable and out of balance. This can lead to an imbalance between our good bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. This can cause skin diseases and changes to develop or worsen. With too few of our own, health-promoting bacteria, germs have an easy time multiplying and causing inflammation and injuries. The lower the diversity of bacteria, the more susceptible the skin is.

In fact, scientists have established a link between certain skin diseases and the occurrence of specific microorganisms:

Acne: Propionibacterium acnes
This probacterium is often involved in the development of inflammatory acne. The aim here is to remove the habitat of this bacterium by strengthening the good skin flora so that the inflammatory foci can be contained.
How? Studies have shown that certain probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis, have led to an improvement in the appearance of acne. The spread of acne pathogens on the skin surface was reduced and at the same time the production of ceramides was stimulated.

Rosacea: It is now known that bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is linked to rosacea. If people with rosacea are treated for this so-called SIBO, the rosacea often disappears completely.

Neurodermatitis: Staphylococcus aureus
The typical endogenous eczema, i.e. open, scaly patches of skin, can often lead to overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus. This causes itching and further inflammation in addition to the open wounds. Reproducing and strengthening the good germs in the skin flora can significantly alleviate these symptoms.
How can this be done? There are treatment methods that include Ceramides Niacinamide or selenium-rich spring water are added to the natural base care. Newer therapeutic strategies attempt to correct the damaged microbiome in new ways. For example, caesarean section babies are rubbed with vaginal secretions from the mother to promote the initial colonization of the skin. It is not yet known whether this approach has an effect on the later development of skin diseases.

Psoriasis: antimicrobial peptides
Because the microbiome has become imbalanced, psoriasis leads to an oversupply of antimicrobial peptides, which trigger the immune system to prepare itself for full resistance.
How does this work? Intestinal cleansing methods have been used for years to treat immune disorders such as psoriasis, as 80% of the immune system is located right there: in our intestines. A medically supervised intestinal cleansing, fasting or detoxification cure supports the external treatment of the skin.

Seborrhoeic eczema: Malassezia yeasts
If too many of these yeasts accumulate on the skin, yellowish, greasy scaling occurs. By strengthening the natural bacteria of the skin flora, however, these yeasts are suppressed and the symptoms are alleviated.
How does this work? Certain medicines prescribed by your dermatologist can help.

For precise treatment and therapy methods, we recommend that you always consult a dermatologist or dermatologist for detailed and individual advice and examination.

3. 5 tips for healthy skin flora

So it's all about maintaining the balance of the skin microbiome. Here are a few tips on how we can create a habitat for our health-promoting skin bacteria so that they can support us ideally:

1. Don't "over-clean "
If we wash ourselves too often, this can upset the pH-value protective acid mantle. As you have already read above, it is important to avoid this so that germs do not have the chance to settle in the first place.

2. shower properly
Don'tshower too long and, above all, not too hot! Otherwise important lipids will be washed off our good microorganisms and their breeding ground. As the pH-value of water is around 7, the protective acid mantle is irritated if you shower for too long and we lose moisture through the softened skin barrier. This gives germs free rein. Showering every day is also not exactly good for our skin flora. It's better to skip it for a day or two and only gently wash the underarms and intimate areas every day Cleanse.

3. use mild cleansers
Mild here means that the cleansing product should have a pH-value of 5.5-7. In addition, it should not contain any fragrances or artificial colorants to protect the skin. Our Cleansing Oil cleanses particularly mildly with sugar surfactants, for example, which thoroughly Cleanse but leave the skin barrier and acid mantle intact.

4. "Less is more"
If you don't wear make-up or sun cream during the day, PM you don't necessarily need to use a cleanser for your face, as water already washes away dust particles and other remnants of the day. However, if you wear make-up, it is best to use a mild cleanser as described above.

5. keep your eyes open when buying products
When choosing your products, it is best to make sure that they are particularly gentle on the skin. You should also pay attention to pH-value , especially with products that are used daily, such as creams or deodorants. Our skin is slightly acidic, i.e. 5.5, so if we use a product with a strongly deviating pH-value , this can attack our microbiome. If products are too acidic, this leads to chemical burn. If products are too alkaline, the skin's protective acid mantle is damaged. You should therefore not use real soaps for Skincare . The pH-value of our products is mostly between 4 and 6, which means they are very close to the skin's value and can therefore be used without hesitation. Products of this type are also called pH skin neutral. The following of our products are pH skin neutral: 

• Aloe Vera gel
• Aloe Vera Spray
• Baby balm
• Baby lotion
• solid shampoo
• Hyaluron Concentrate
• Hyaluron cream Light
• Hyaluron cream medium 
• Hyaluron cream rich
• Niacinamide serum
• Cleansing Gel
• Retinal serum
• shampoo
• Hemp Oil Mask
• Clay Mask
  
  

However, this does not mean that the other products are harmful to your skin. On the contrary. All our products have a maximum pH-value of between 7 and 8, which is in no way harmful to your skin. In fact, we do not offer any alkaline products at all.


Quite a lot that our skin does for us every day. I hope this article has given you some new information and helped you to think about your skincare routine and habits. Take care of yourself and your good bacteria!

Sources:
https://www.omni-biotic.com/de/blog/das-mikrobiom-der-haut/
https://www.aesthetico.de/blog/das-mikrobiom-bei-akne-und-co-falsch-besiedelt/
https://von-lupin.com/das-mikrobiom-der-haut/
https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/ausgabe-312018/oekogemeinschaft-mensch/
"This is your brain on food" - Uma Naidoo, MD (First Edition: 2020. Publisher: Little, Brown Spark)
https://www.aerztezeitung.de/Medizin/Bei-Akne-und-Neurodermitis-ist-die-Haut-falsch-besiedelt-232111.html