Strengthening skin flora should be the goal of all natural skin care. And we don't have to do much because your skin has all the important abilities to protect and regenerate. But all too often we overdo it with well-intentioned skin care and interfere with these natural processes with care products. Products that kill germs then also catch a large part of the useful and even important bacteria of the skin flora. In this way, this sensitive balance is repeatedly disturbed and endangers the health of the skin.
🔬 Bacteria and fungi used to be considered plants, hence the older term skin flora. Today we mostly talk about the skin microbiome.
A weakened microbiome can lead to all sorts of skin problems or even skin diseases. It is associated with acne and neurodermatitis, among other things. But now to the basics.
Skin flora, what is that actually?
The skin flora is created at birth. It includes all the microorganisms that are a natural part of healthy skin. This includes a variety of bacteria and fungi that densely colonize the surface of your skin. They live symbiotically with you and help rid your skin of harmful germs. It is divided into:
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Resident skin flora: The associated germs "resident" permanently on your skin and have a protective effect.
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Transient skin flora: These include, for example, pathogens that come from outside and actually have no place on your skin.
So the resident skin flora is protective shield your skin. Maybe you know the cleaner fish from nature documentaries, the larger conspecifics that clean the scales. This keeps them healthy. If someone were to fish out all the cleaner fish in the reef, the natural balance would be severely disturbed. Parasites would multiply unhindered. Neither can your skin do without its microscopic cleaning crew. It protects your skin and body from infection.
The preservation of the skin flora is therefore becoming more and more important, especially in medical research. The main focus here is on the use of antibiotics and disinfectants. It has been found that both not only eliminate the unwanted germs, but also reduce the good bacteria in the microbiome and thus the microbial composition cannot be improved in the long term.
If you promote the good germs instead, the skin climate improves sustainably and the bad germs have less chance of settling. Instead of sanitizing the skin with harsh ingredients, experts advise boosting the natural flora.
Restore skin flora
Ecosystems usually function better the less we interfere. Therefore, when it comes to preserving and restoring the skin flora: Less is more. What does that look like in practice?
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Face cleansing
Do not use aggressive agents in daily cleansing. And adjust the cleaning according to the degree of "dirt". If you haven't worn any make-up or sunscreen, for example at the morning cleaning, there is less to remove. Then lukewarm water is enough. Sunscreen and make-up, on the other hand, must be removed thoroughly in the evening. Use either a gentle cleanser or our Five Make-up Remover.
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Cleaning the body
Use mild shower gel and shampoo and use it sparingly. By that I mean not only the amount, but also the places you use it. Legs, for example, don't usually get so dirty every day that they always have to be lathered. Especially since the skin dries out quickly here. It is best to shower briefly and only lukewarm.
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Care products
Reduce your care routine to a few products with few ingredients. Good moisturizing care in the morning and in the evening as well as sunscreen< are mandatory t31>. In addition, your skin can do without most of it. So this is where the balance comes in.