If you’re here (hi, welcome!You probably already know the importance of a healthy microbiome when it comes maintaining healthy skin. When it is working correctly, the microbiome acts as a shield, protecting your skin against harmful pathogens which can lead to acne, increased sensitivity and eczema.
At the end of the day, when the microbiome is out of whack, so is the skin — it’s really as cut and dry as that. But how does one’s microbiome actually get off-kilter? Great question. Here, find out the ways in which you’re damaging your microbiome, and in turn, your skin.
Culprit 1: Antibiotics
This shouldn’t be a total shock, but bacteria (good and bad) and antibiotics are not friends. As a result, “in general, the skin microbiome is sensitive to the use of antibiotics,” says New York City board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. “This is not just the antibiotics that someone ingests, but topical antibiotics.” The same goes for antibacterial soaps, she says, since they impact the microbiome by affecting the pH of the skin through the use of surfactants.
Culprit #2: Harsh ingredients
Another culprit is skincare products that contain harsh, stripping ingredients, which can inadvertently create an inhospitable environment for those essential good bacteria — think highly concentrated acids and unstable vitamin C. They can mess with the pH level of skin, which can reduce the level of diverse microorganisms on the skin and in turn, throw off the microbiome.
What happens when you microbiome is out-of-whack?
What happens to your microbiome when it is out of balance? What does Dr. Garshick have to say? “If the skin microbiome is disrupted, it can become dry, irritated and inflamed, as well as more prone to injury and damage — and because your skin barrier can be affected, it can impact the way your skin reacts to various products and outside stressors,” she says. She also says that it can worsen conditions such as eczema and acne.
Any imbalance in your skin’s microbiome, which is an important layer of your skin barrier makes it more sensitive and stressed. Depending on your individual skin, this could manifest as increased sensitivity in the form of redness, tightness, and irritation — or you may be experiencing more acne flare-ups than usual. You may also experience an aggravated skin condition such as rosacea or Psoriasis: itchy, red, angry and inflamed.
How to rebalance microbiome
While there’s no overnight fix for an imbalanced microbiome, Dr. Garshick says the best thing you can do is pare back your routine to the basics and only use ultra-gentle products that support barrier health. Think about products that have ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acids, as well as vitamin E and other soothing agents.
The Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier cleanser is one way to achieve this. It not only works to restore the microbiome but can also be used to replace the average cleanser that often causes a disruption in the skin barrier. It features a combination of pre- and postbiotics — which help nurture good bacteria and deliver their skin-nourishing byproducts, respectively — as well as ceramides. And these ceramides are key; they’re naturally found in the lipid barrier, where they create a seal that keeps moisture in and irritants out. By washing with this cleanser, you’re essentially re-upping them, leaving skin stronger and healthier long after you rinse.
Moisturizing also plays a role, since a healthy lipid layer is the foundation of a healthy microbiome. Both our Avocado Ceramide Recovery serum and Plump Plump Hyaluronic Serum are gentle hydrating options to help keep your skin barrier firm and healthy. The latter also contains allantoin, which can calm inflammation — making it a great option for controlling any redness or discomfort that could disrupt from an imbalanced microbiome. It’s also important to follow with a good moisturizer, like Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, and, for daytime, a sunscreen like Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50.
Additionally, be sure to avoid any and all antibacterial soaps and other topicals that contain antimicrobial properties, as this will allow your skin to reaccumulate the good and bad bacteria needed for your skin’s microbiome to thrive.
Read more about supporting your skin microbiome: