Your skin is home to over 1,000 species of microbes that act as a living shield.

The skin microbiome is a complex ecosystem that varies significantly across different body sites. Research conducted by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has identified that oily, moist, and dry areas of the skin each support unique microbial communities. For instance, Propionibacterium species thrive in oily areas like the face, while Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium prefer moist environments like the folds of the elbows.These microbes serve as the first line of defense for the human immune system. They produce antimicrobial peptides and organic acids that lower the skin's pH, making the environment inhospitable for many pathogens. A 2018 study published in the journal 'Science' revealed that certain strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis produce a molecule that inhibits the growth of several types of cancer cells, showing that these microbes do more than just fight germs.The diversity of this microbiome is established at birth and changes throughout a person's life based on hygiene, diet, and environment. Modern research into the 'hygiene hypothesis' suggests that over-sanitization may actually weaken this protective layer. Scientists are currently exploring 'bacteriotherapy' or skin probiotics to treat conditions like eczema and acne by restoring healthy bacterial populations rather than using traditional antibiotics.