We want to give you five valuable tips on how to properly protect and care for your skin. To understand how to do this, you should know how your skin "works." Therefore, we'll start at the basics – with the structure of your skin and your skin microbiome.
What is the skin microbiome?
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It serves as a protective barrier against external influences such as dirt, radiation, and infections, and plays a crucial role in our health and beauty.
The skin consists of three layers: the superficial epidermis, the middle dermis, and the deep subcutis. The epidermis is made up of dead skin cells and forms the outer barrier. The dermis contains blood vessels, connective tissue, and sebaceous glands, which keep the skin moist. The subcutis consists of fat and connective tissue and serves as thermal insulation.
An important part of our skin is the skin microbiome, the entirety of microorganisms that live on our skin. These microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, form a unique ecosystem and play a vital role in skin health and protection. The skin microbiome helps maintain a healthy skin barrier by suppressing pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. A healthy microbiome balance also helps maintain skin hydration and reduce inflammation. Changes in the skin microbiome, such as those caused by antibiotic use or excessive cleansing, can disrupt this balance, potentially contributing to skin problems like acne, eczema, or fungal infections. Therefore, it's essential to adequately protect your skin barrier. You can learn how to do this below:
6 Tips on how to protect your skin barrier:
A healthy skin barrier forms the foundation for beautiful skin!
- Use SPF (sun protection factor) every day: Harmful UV rays can affect your skin 365 days a year. Even when it's raining and cloudy, you should protect your skin every day by using a day cream with an SPF of at least 30. We know that SPF protects the skin from these UV rays and thus prevents signs of aging. But did you know that daily protection can even help your skin recover from past damage?
- No care products containing paraffin: These products form an impermeable film on the skin. If these products are used over a longer period, the skin barrier can no longer regenerate and its function deteriorates. Caution: If you stop using the product, your skin may remain dry and out of balance for weeks or even months. It will take time for it to regenerate.
- Avoid emulsifiers: These can actually hinder your skin's natural lipid barrier during cleansing. An emulsifier binds oil and water together, but in doing so, it disrupts the skin barrier's natural, externally absorbed lipid content. Our tip: Forget creams and opt for pure cosmetics with organic, plant-based oils and no additives.
- Overly harsh peels: These can damage the skin barrier equally.If the skin is exposed to excessively intense exfoliation, the epidermis cannot regenerate quickly and completely enough to maintain its protective function.
- Skin's own substances: They are considered effective for regenerating and maintaining the skin barrier. It's best to use plant oils that contain specific fatty acids and help to reintegrate the skin barrier's natural components.
- Linoleic acid: found in amran extract, argan, borage and apricot kernel oil
- Palmitic acid: found in sea buckthorn and amaranth extract, as well as in wheat germ and avocado oil
- Stearic acid: found in cucumber seeds, sesame seeds, borage and moringa oil
- Phytosterols are found in evening primrose and wheat germ oil, amaranth extract, or shea butter.
- Moisture, moisture, moisture: hydrating your skin shouldn't just happen from the outside, but also from the inside. Drink enough water, or even organic plant water, which can penetrate deep into the skin and contains effective ingredients.
mybacs® Pro tip
Go Natural: If possible, wear clothing made from natural fibers like cotton and bamboo, especially items that are in prolonged contact with your skin, such as underwear. Synthetic fibers can irritate the skin barrier and disrupt the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. Unlike cotton, synthetic fibers like polyester provide an optimal environment for odor-causing bacteria, reports the Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology.
Here's how you care for your skin by strengthening your skin flora.
One issue that is often underestimated is the daily Care routine. Excessive hygiene attacks the skin's natural protective barrier, namely the skin flora and the acid mantle. The "resident skin flora" refers to the natural skin microbes that constantly live on our skin and combat pollutants and harmful bacteria. The skin flora is most intact when the skin's pH value is just below 5 – in the acidic range. This is because most pathogenic bacteria cannot develop in this slightly acidic environment – also known as the "acid mantle." It also ensures that special skin-building enzymes can function more effectively. However, certain cosmetics, especially excessive use, cause the skin to become alkaline, thus destroying the acid mantle. The consequence: The skin flora no longer functions properly. The skin loses moisture, and harmful bacteria and other pollutants can penetrate more easily.
Do you want to support your skin in the best possible way with synbiotics (probiotics and prebiotics)? Then check out our Dermabacs an - specially developed to provide the best possible support for the skin!
