All skin bacteria are harmful

Other View vs Mainstream View

There is a non-mainstream point of view that "All skin bacteria are harmful". Let's take a look into pros and cons of this statement:

1. Pros: Skin bacteria are foreign microorganisms that don't belong on our bodies and can potentially cause infections or diseases.

   • Cons (Mainstream View): Most skin bacteria are actually harmless or even beneficial. Bacteria like Staphylococcus epidermidis help protect the skin from water loss and damage by producing fatty compounds called ceramides. The skin microbiome plays an important role in skin health.

2. Pros: Pathogenic skin bacteria can enter the body through cuts and cause serious systemic infections like sepsis if left untreated.

   • Cons (Mainstream View): While pathogenic skin bacteria can rarely lead to complications, the vast majority of skin bacteria do not invade the body or cause any harm. Proper hygiene and prompt treatment of skin wounds prevents most bacterial skin infections from progressing.

3. Pros: The presence of any bacteria on the skin could be seen as unclean or unhygienic.

   • Cons (Mainstream View): It's normal and healthy to have billions of bacteria living on our skin. These commensal bacteria are part of our skin's natural ecosystem and serve protective functions. Trying to completely sterilize the skin surface would ironically make the skin more susceptible to pathogenic invaders.

4. Pros: Skin bacteria can produce foul odors and contribute to body odor, which is socially undesirable.

   • Cons (Mainstream View): While certain bacteria like Corynebacterium can break down sweat and cause odor, this is a normal biological process that doesn't indicate poor health. Regular hygiene can manage body odor without needing to eliminate all skin bacteria.

5. Pros: Skin infections caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes can be contagious and spread to other people.

   • Cons (Mainstream View): Most healthy people's immune systems and skin barriers can defend against bacterial invaders. Basic hygiene practices like handwashing, not sharing personal items, and covering wounds are sufficient to prevent the spread of skin infections in most cases.

Terms

• Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can be found in diverse environments, including on human skin. Some bacteria are pathogenic and can cause infections, while others are harmless or beneficial.

• Cellulitis: A bacterial skin infection, often caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus, that causes redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. It occurs when bacteria enter through a break in the skin.

• Commensal bacteria: Harmless or beneficial bacteria that naturally inhabit the body. Example: The commensal bacteria on his skin helped crowd out the growth of disease-causing germs.

• Folliculitis: Inflammation of hair follicles, often due to bacterial infection, that causes red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles.

• Impetigo: A highly contagious bacterial skin infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes, that causes red sores or blisters that may ooze and crust over.

• Microbiome: The collection of all the microorganisms and their genetic material present in a particular environment, such as the human gut or skin.

• Pathogenic bacteria: Bacteria capable of causing disease. They may produce toxins, invade tissues, or trigger harmful inflammation.

• Sepsis: A potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's extreme response to an infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. It can occur when pathogenic bacteria enter the bloodstream.

• Skin microbiome: The trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that normally live on human skin. Example: Using harsh soaps disrupted her skin microbiome and caused dryness and inflammation.

• Staphylococcus aureus: A type of bacteria that can cause skin infections like boils and cellulitis. Example: A wrestler developed a S. aureus skin infection from a cut exposed to dirty mats.

• Streptococcus pyogenes: Bacteria that can cause skin conditions like impetigo with red sores and honey-colored crusts. Example: A child developed impetigo on her face after touching a S. pyogenes infected rash.

Analogy

The skin microbiome is like a diverse garden, with many different species of bacteria living together in balance. Just like how a garden needs a variety of plants to thrive, the skin needs a mix of bacteria to stay healthy. Calling all skin bacteria harmful is like saying every plant in a garden is a weed - it ignores the vital and positive role that many species play.

History

1. 1900s: Scientists first discovered that bacteria can live on human skin.

2. 1950s: Antibiotics were used widely, and there was an increased focus on hygiene and cleanliness. However, the concept of the skin microbiome was not yet understood, leading to some misconceptions about the role of bacteria on skin.

3. 1970s: Researchers began to realize that some skin bacteria are harmless and may be beneficial.

4. 2000s: The Human Microbiome Project launched to study the bacteria living in and on the human body.

5. 2010s-Present: Scientists used genomic sequencing to identify the thousands of bacterial species living on skin. Studies showed that skin bacteria help keep skin moisturized, fight pathogens, and reduce inflammation. Doctors recognized the importance of the skin microbiome for conditions like eczema and acne. Skincare companies began adding prebiotics and probiotics to products to support good skin bacteria.

How to use it

1. Skincare routine: Instead of using harsh cleansers and alcohol-based products that strip all bacteria away, choose gentle cleansers and moisturizers that preserve the skin's natural microbiome. Look for products that contain prebiotics (food for good bacteria) or probiotics (beneficial bacteria). For example, switch from an antibacterial hand soap to a creamy, low-pH hand wash.

2. Antibiotic use: If you need to take antibiotics for a skin infection, talk to your doctor about also using probiotics or prebiotic skincare to help restore the skin's healthy bacterial balance afterwards. For example, after taking oral antibiotics for acne, use a probiotic lotion to replenish the skin's good bacteria.

3. Hygiene habits: Practice good hygiene by gently cleansing skin, but avoid oversanitizing and relying heavily on antibacterial products in your daily life. For most people, there's no need to use antibacterial soaps or hand sanitizers all the time - they may do more harm than good by wiping out beneficial bacteria. For example, wash your hands with regular soap and water, and use hand sanitizer only when needed, like after touching public surfaces.

Facts

• Over 1,000 different species of bacteria live on human skin.

• A single square centimeter of skin can contain over 1 billion bacteria.

• The most common types of bacteria on the skin are Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Propionibacterium.

• The skin and gut contain similar numbers of bacteria, with each harboring trillions of microorganisms.

• While babies born by C-section initially have different skin bacteria compared to vaginally-born infants, recent studies show that these differences largely disappear within the first few months of life.