What is the Microbiome?

You may already know a bit about the gut microbiome - all the organisms that live inside our bodies and work together to keep us healthy. There’s lots of info out there about the importance of gut flora, but what about skin flora? There are billions of bacteria and fungi living on our skin that are just as important!

What the Skin Microbiome Does

Our skin, the largest organ in our bodies, is home to a diverse group of usually harmless bacteria and fungi that help keep our skin healthy and thriving. All these microorganisms make up the outermost layer of the skin barrier and serve as our first line of defense against the environment.

Why Balance is Important

Most of the bacteria and fungi living on our skin are harmless, but when they multiply too rapidly, it creates an imbalance in the skin microbiome. This can lead to increased skin sensitivity, irritating skin conditions, and damage to the skin barrier. 

Candida Albicans Overgrowth

Just like too much candida in the vaginal tract can lead to a yeast infection, too much of this fungi on our skin can lead to cutaneous candida - a similar type of fungal yeast infection.

Malassezia Yeast Overgrowth

Malassezia yeast can be found on the skin of all mammals - they’re an integral part of the skin microbiome. But when they are overfed, it can lead to skin conditions like fungal acne, atopic dermatitis and folliculitis.

How to Support Healthy Skin Flora

Anything we put on our skin has the potential to disrupt the balance of skin flora, which is why it’s so important (especially for anyone already experiencing sensitive or irritated skin) to use products that respect and protect the delicate balance of the skin’s microbial layer. 

Microbiome Balancing Cleanser is the best way to maintain healthy, balanced skin flora. Why? We’re so glad you asked!

• Supports Skin’s Natural Defenses

Antimicrobial Peptides, like the ones your skin produces naturally, help control the proliferation of skin microbes like Malassezia and Candida albicans. At the same time, Prebiotics help support the growth of good bacteria in much the same way a prebiotic supplement supports healthy gut flora.

• Inhibits Growth of Fungi

All the active ingredients in this unique formulation work to inhibit the growth of fungi and keep microbiota balanced.

• Purifies Bacteria

Green Tea Seed & Leaf Extracts work to gently cleanse the skin of bacterial buildup that can throw the microbiome out of whack.

• Free From Known Yeast Triggers

When it comes to Malassezia yeast, the best thing you can do is not to overfeed them! There’s nothing they love to eat more than lipids. The oils produced by your skin provide plenty of nourishment for these fungi, but adding more to their plate by lathering on lipid-rich body products can kick off a feeding frenzy. That’s why we formulated Microbiome Balancing Cleanser without known Malassezia yeast food sources, like ceramides, fatty acids, esters, glycerin, and amino acids.

• pH-Balanced

Like all SweetSpot Labs washes, Microbiome Balancing Cleanser is pH-balanced to vulvar skin. But bacteria-prone skin requires a slightly more acidic pH, so this one has a pH level of 4.8 to keep bad bacteria at bay.

For even more balance, be sure to check out Microbiome Balancing Spray!