What’s living on your skin? Understanding the skin microbiome

Have you ever heard the word microbiome and wondered, microbiome what?

Your skin is not just skin. It is home to a whole world of tiny organisms, including helpful bacteria, fungi and viruses. Together, they form the skin microbiome.

These microorganisms are not harmful. In fact, many of them play an important role in keeping your skin healthy. They help support your skin barrier, protect against unwanted germs, and guide your immune system in recognising what belongs on the skin and what does not (Byrd, Belkaid and Segre, 2018; Belkaid and Segre, 2014).

Every person’s microbiome is unique, almost like a microbial fingerprint.

Why the skin microbiome matters

For many years, skincare was focused on removing oil, dirt and bacteria. The goal was often to make skin feel squeaky clean.

Modern research shows that not all bacteria are bad. Many microbes are essential for calm, balanced skin (Byrd, Belkaid and Segre, 2018).

Harsh cleansers, over-exfoliation and aggressive routines can disrupt this ecosystem. This may weaken the skin barrier and remove helpful microbes that protect the surface of the skin (Sanford and Gallo, 2013).

That is why microbiome-friendly skincare has become an important area of focus in modern formulation.

Supporting the skin’s natural balance can help skin feel less irritated, more comfortable and more resilient over time.

Acne and the microbiome

Acne is complex. It is not simply the result of excess oil or poor hygiene.

One bacterium often discussed in acne is Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). This microbe is found on most healthy skin and plays a normal role in breaking down sebum.

However, certain strains of C. acnes are linked to inflammation and blemish development (Fitz-Gibbon et al., 2013).

The goal is not to eliminate all bacteria. Instead, current research supports maintaining balance by reducing pro-inflammatory strains while preserving protective ones (Barnard et al., 2016).

This emerging approach favours microbiome-preserving care that supports equilibrium rather than harsh elimination.

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics in skincare

You may have seen these terms on skincare labels. Here is what they actually mean.

Prebiotics. Prebiotics are ingredients that feed and support the beneficial bacteria already living on your skin. Examples include inulin and Aloe ferox leaf extract, which may help improve microbial diversity and skin barrier function (Zeng et al., 2025).

Probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that may promote skin health. In skincare, it can be difficult to keep probiotics alive and stable in a topical product, which is why their use remains challenging in cosmetics (Puebla-Barragan and Reid, 2021).

Postbiotics. Postbiotics are non-living by-products produced by microbes, such as peptides or cell fragments. They may offer soothing, comforting or barrier-supporting benefits (Salminen et al., 2021).

Together, these bioactive approaches may help support a healthier and more resilient skin environment.

How to support your skin microbiome

You do not need highly specialised products to care for your microbiome. Simple, evidence-based habits make the biggest difference.

1. Avoid over-cleansing

Washing too often, or using harsh cleansers, can remove beneficial microbes and compromise the skin’s lipid barrier (Sanford and Gallo, 2013).

Cleanse gently, once or twice daily.

Try: Upenya Exfoliating Cleanser

2. Skip harsh scrubs and alcohol-heavy products

Physical exfoliants and strong alcohol-based formulas can damage the skin’s protective acid mantle, making it harder for good microbes to thrive (Sanford and Gallo, 2013).

3. Choose microbiome-supportive skincare

Look for ingredients such as:

·      inulin

·      Aloe ferox leaf extract

·      gentle fermented extracts

Upenya’s Exfoliating Cleanser and Moisturising Gel contain inulin and Aloe ferox, which act as prebiotic ingredients that support beneficial skin microbes while gently removing impurities (Zeng et al., 2025).

4. Support skin health from within

Lifestyle matters too. Adequate sleep, stress management and a varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains all support the gut-skin axis, which can influence the skin microbiome (Salem et al., 2018).

A living ecosystem worth protecting

Your skin is a living ecosystem. By supporting microbiome balance, you can help improve barrier function, reduce the look of irritation, and create an environment where blemish-prone skin is less likely to become inflamed.

Thoughtful skincare and simple daily habits can go a long way toward long-term skin health, grounded in published scientific evidence.

References

Barnard, E. et al. (2016) ‘The balance of metagenomic elements shapes the skin microbiome in acne and health’, Scientific Reports, 6, 39491. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39491 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Belkaid, Y. and Segre, J.A. (2014) ‘Dialogue between skin microbiota and immunity’, Science, 346(6212), pp. 954–959. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260144 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Byrd, A.L., Belkaid, Y. and Segre, J.A. (2018) ‘The human skin microbiome’, Nature Reviews Microbiology, 16(3), pp. 143–155. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2017.157 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Fitz-Gibbon, S. et al. (2013) ‘Propionibacterium acnes strain populations associated with acne’, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 133(9), pp. 2152–2160. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2013.21 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Puebla-Barragan, S. and Reid, G. (2021) ‘Probiotics in cosmetic products: trends and challenges’, Molecules, 26(5), 1249. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051249 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Salem, I. et al. (2018) ‘The gut microbiome as a regulator of the gut-skin axis’, Frontiers in Microbiology, 9, 1459. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Salminen, S. et al. (2021) ‘ISAPP consensus statement on postbiotics’, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 18, pp. 649–667. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Sanford, J.A. and Gallo, R.L. (2013) ‘Functions of the skin microbiota in health and disease’, Seminars in Immunology, 25(5), pp. 370–377. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2013.09.005 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Zeng, M. et al. (2025) ‘Prebiotic oligosaccharides in skin health’, Antioxidants, 14(6), 754. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14060754 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).