Skin Microbiota

• Skin flora, also called skin microbiota, refers to microbiota that resides
on the skin, typically human skin.
• Many of them are bacteria of which there are around 1,000 species
upon human skin from nineteen phyla.
• Most are found in the superficial layers of the epidermis and the
upper parts of hair follicles.
• Our skin is home to millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• Similar to those in our gut, skin microorganisms have essential roles in
the protection against invading pathogens, the education of our
immune system, and the breakdown of natural products.
• As the largest organ of the human body, the skin is colonized by
beneficial microorganisms and serves as a physical barrier to prevent
the invasion of pathogens.
• In circumstances where the barrier is broken or when the balance
between commensals and pathogens is disturbed, skin disease or
even systemic disease can result.
• The cutaneous innate and adaptive immune responses can modulate
the skin microbiota, but the microbiota also functions in educating
the immune system.
• Human skin sites can be categorized by their physiological
characteristics, that is, whether they are sebaceous (oily), moist or
dry.
• Studying the composition of the microbiota at different sites is
valuable for elucidating the etiology of common skin disorders, which
often have a preference for specific skin sites, such as eczema inside
the elbow and psoriasis on the outside of the elbow.
• the composition of microbial communities was found to be primarily
dependent on the physiology of the skin site, with changes in the
relative abundance of bacterial taxa associated with moist, dry and
sebaceous microenvironments.
• Sebaceous sites were dominated by lipophilic Propionibacterium
species, whereas bacteria that thrive in humid environments, such as
Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species, were preferentially
abundant in moist areas, including the bends of the elbows and the
feet.
• In contrast to bacterial communities, fungal community composition
was similar across core body sites regardless of physiology.
• Fungi of the genus Malassezia predominated at core body and arm
sites, whereas foot sites were colonized by a more diverse
combination of Malassezia spp., Aspergillus spp., Cryptococcus spp.,
Rhodotorula spp., Epicoccum spp. and others.
• Bacteria were the most abundant kingdom across sites, and fungi
were the least abundant.
• Microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) and mites cover the
surface of the skin and reside deep in the hair and glands.
• On the skin surface, rod and round bacteria such as Proteobacteria
and Staphylococcus spp., respectively form communities that are
deeply intertwined among themselves and other microorganisms.
• Commensal fungi such as Malassezia spp. grow both as branching
filamentous hypha and as individual cells.
• Virus particles live both freely and in bacterial cells. Skin mites, such
as Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, are some of the
smallest arthropods and live in or near hair follicles.
• Skin appendages include hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat
glands.
• Resident bacteria are sometimes known as colonizing flora. This
consists of the bacteria that live in your skin for a long time and
typically have important functions.
• For example, the metabolism of these resident bacteria can stop the
growth of non-resident bacteria (such as transient bacteria) and fungi
that could be harmful to our bodies.
• Resident bacteria can also maintain a stable number of colonizing
microorganisms on our skin.
• This ensures that their numbers don’t get out of control. Also,
resident microflora establishes a relationship with the host that is
normally commensalism or symbiotic.
• It’s estimated that around 80% of the resident skin flora lives on the
outermost layer of the epidermis.
• This is known as the stratum corneum.
• There are also certain parts of the skin that have higher
concentrations of resident bacteria.
• Roughly 20% of the resident microorganisms in our body are found in
areas that are rich in sebaceous glands.
• This includes the forehead, scalp, axillae, chest, between the shoulder
blades, and also near the groin.
• The dominant species of resident bacteria is Staphylococcus
epidermidis, a gram-positive bacterium and one of the over 40
species that belong to the genus Staphylococcus.
• It is most commonly found in the skin and less commonly in the
mucosal flora.
• Staphylococcus epidermidis isn’t usually pathogenic, but people with
a weakened immune system may develop an infection if their
numbers are not controlled.
• However, the majority of these infections related to Staphylococcus
epidermidis come from hospitals.
• Other common species of resident bacteria includes cutibacteria,
corynebacteria, dermobacteria, and micrococci.
• These are Gram-positive and aerobic (apart from cutibacteria)
bacteria that are usually not pathogenic.
• However, they can be opportunistic and may take advantage if they
have access to tissues or weakened host defenses.
• This usually occurs via wounds such as cuts.
• Transient bacteria refers to microorganisms that are usually not found in
the body.
• Additionally, transient bacteria of the skin could mean bacteria that is not a
common skin dweller but is transferred, temporally from other body sites.
• Transient bacteria generally refers to bacteria, but it can also mean fungi
and viruses.
• Most transient bacteria spreads via direct skin contact or through indirectly
touching and sharing different objects.
• Much like resident bacteria, transient bacteria isn’t inherently bad for us.
However, given the opportunity, they will compromise our bodies and
cause infections.
• Transient bacteria tend to colonize the superficial layers of the skin.
• They don’t normally multiply on the skin like resident bacteria since
they are inhibited by the resident bacteria, but they are known to
occasionally multiply at a very irregular rate and will survive when the
conditions are right.
• They usually struggle to compete when it comes to colonizing certain
parts of the body due to the presence of resident bacteria.
• However, if there are enough numbers or an opportunity for transient
bacteria (such as an open wound or a weakened immune system)
then they can quickly affect our bodies and cause an infection.
• A great example of this is the Cutibacterium genus. This group of
bacteria is known for its unique metabolism.
• It’s able to synthesize propionic acid and they usually live in and
around areas of the body with sebaceous glands and sweat glands.
• They essentially feed on sebum, an oily substance that is produced by
the body’s sebaceous glands to lubricate our skin and hair.
• If too much sebum is produced, it can lead to blockages in your pores
which triggers inflammation, resulting in acne.
• Cutibacterium helps to regulate the levels of sebum on our skin to
ensure that this doesn’t happen.
• However, it will still colonize the skin if conditions are right as it’s still
an opportunistic bacteria.
• Too much sebum may also lead to excess growth of Cutibacterium
acnes.
• As such, it’s important for your body to maintain a healthy mix of
bacteria to ensure your skin stays healthy.
Thankyou