Today's telegraph Online22 Apr 2021 21:22
Looks like a ready market for microbiome friendly shampoo and soap
"Before you next take a shower, read this...
One argument for showering less centres around the skin microbiome: the trillions of micro-organisms that live on the skin’s surface, made up of about 1,000 species of bacteria and up to 80 species of fungi. Some microbes feed off the oils in our skin, which is stripped away when we use soap. More brands are beginning to recognise the importance of these bacteria and even market themselves as “microbiome-friendly”.
“In terms of research, we are probably 10 years behind the gut when it comes to the skin microbiome,” says Prof Matthew Hardman, an expert in wound healing at Hull York Medical School. “All of the concepts that apply to the gut, you can also apply to the skin – there are good bacteria and bad bacteria. One of the differences is that the skin is actually more difficult for bacteria to colonise, as it is a much harsher environment.
“From a scientific perspective, the challenge has always been being able to identify those bacteria, understand exactly what’s there and why.”
The skin microbiome plays an important role, supporting our immune system, preventing pathogens from entering the body, reducing inflammation and lessening the chances of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Hardman led a 2014 study which found that skin microbes could help to heal chronic wounds, common in the elderly.
There are constant environmental factors that disrupt our skin’s microbiome – taking regular showers being one of them. “If you shower regularly, you can deplete the amount of bacteria and oil on your skin, and increase its dryness,” says Hardman.
Cases of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis have all risen in recent years. Studies point to environmental factors, such as irritants and allergens that trigger the immune system, as contributing to the rise in people with eczema. In children, some experts put this down to the “hygiene hypothesis”: the idea that early exposure to germs helps a child’s immune system develop resistance to infections. In our excessively clean Western lifestyles, this exposure is limited.
“We know that washing with soaps is harmful to the skin barrier, especially with conditions such as eczema. This could potentially be down to changes in the microbiome, but the research is still too early to tell,” says Dr Helen Alexander, of the St John’s Institute of Dermatology at King’s College London. She adds that there is no evidence that washing your hands is bad for the skin microbiome.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global soap market is projected to reach $55.3 billion (£47.8 billion) by 2027. But we weren’t always so addicted to scrubbing ourselves with soap. “Regular washing took off in different places at different times, but it mainly happened over the second half of the 20th century,” says Hamblin."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/next-take-shower-read/?li_sourc
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