The Microbiota revolution
The microbiota or bacterial flora of the skin has lately been well determined through the use of genomic techniques. Today, in fact, we know much more about the type of bacteria representing the resident flora of the skin than in the past. In addition to bacteria, fungi, viruses and microeukaryotes have also been mapped.
The microorganisms of the resident flora, or skin microbiota, play important actions in defense of our health.
The bacterial colonization that occurred in human evolution certainly protects us from possible colonization by potentially dangerous foreign strains.
MICROBIOMA: genome of microorganisms that normally reside in the human body.
MICROBIOTA: set of microorganisms that live in the human body.
Another very important action performed by the skin microbiota is to stimulate and keep our immune-competent system active.
For these reasons alone, it is logical to think that, somehow, skin bacteria and the whole microbiota, should not be disturbed in order for them to perform their positive actions.
However, the same bacteria can become pathogens under certain conditions.
Microbiota, antiseptics, and antibiotics
The most feared condition is that exposure to antiseptics, antibiotics and other chemicals may change the bacterial ecosystem and especially induce resistance. Today there is a growing fear of the generation of superbugs or superbacteria resistant to any antibiotic and capable, potentially, of killing the host by septicemia or infection.
Several studies have assessed how daily cosmetics can disrupt the skin’s microbiota. Most products of skin use, whether in cleansing or skincare, contain antiseptic components or preservatives. These, in daily application and especially for leave-on products, could generate alterations in the ecosystem by promoting pathogen-powered colonizations.
Appropriate choices by formulators on both the type of preservative and the percentage of use selected according to the type of product are recommended.
Indications
Therefore, it is necessary to review the trend of using products containing antiseptics and disinfectants when:
- the skin is acne-prone as it becomes further inflamed
- the use of antibacterial action gel to disinfect hands becomes commonly used. In fact, this should be limited to special situations of possible contamination and the use of protective gloves should be preferred to it
- the skin is of the sensitive type since, by unbalancing the bacterial flora, it becomes irritated, becoming dry and itchy
- during sun exposure since the sun already exerts antibacterial action through UV rays