The Skin Microbiome

Dr. Heidi Kong. Photo: Rhoda Baer (https://www.rhodabaerphotography.com/faces-of-science)

The skin is the human body’s largest organ and the first barrier between the body and the outside world. It is also home to billions of microorganisms. While some of these microorganisms can promote immunity or fight invaders, other, disease-causing microbes sometimes invade the skin surface, causing damage, disease, and slow healing. Researchers are beginning to reveal the complexity of the microbial communities living on our bodies and establish the basis for new microbiome-targeting treatments to maintain healthy skin.

Read more at IEEE Pulse: The Role of the Skin Microbiome in Health and Disease.