Your Skin's BFFs: The Bacteria That've Got Your Back (And Face)

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21 May 2025

6 Min Read

Emma Chee Luo Yi (Contributing Writer)
IN THIS ARTICLE

Meet your skin's BFFs—the skin microbiome: bacteria and more that protect, repair, and balance, with tips to nurture them for a healthier, happier glow!

We’ve all been there—one innocent scroll through your feed, and bam, the algorithm has you hooked, serving up skincare reel after skincare reel, each claiming to be the next holy grail in your routine, promising to turn your skin into a dewy masterpiece. Don’t get me wrong—I love my skincare routine. There’s just something about taking care of my skin morning and night that grounds me and gets me ready to take on the day. The rest of my life might not be perfect, but hey, at least my face is glowing.

 

While the skincare products you slather on daily do help maintain your glow, what if the secret to a clearer, healthier skin isn’t about using more—but about something already living there? Believe it or not, it’s bacteria! So, what exactly are they, what do they do, and how might they be the key to unlocking your skin’s full potential? Keep reading to discover how we can work with—rather than against—these tiny, built-in BFFs that live and thrive on the surface of our skin to bring out its best version.

What’s The Deal With The Skin Microbiome?

If you’ve ever watched the anime Cells at Work!, you can probably picture the microscopic world on your skin—trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses working together like little labourers in a pulsing ecosystem, constantly repairing, protecting, and maintaining your skin’s balance.

 

Much like the gut microbiome, each person’s skin microbiome is as unique as their personality, with distinct microbial communities thriving in different areas of the body, each playing a specialised role. We receive our first dose of skin microbes from our mother’s microbiome, and depending on the type of birth, different bacteria may colonise our skin. From there, the skin microbiome continues to evolve, shaped by factors such as puberty, diet, hygiene, skincare products, climate, and lifestyle. While the skin and gut microbiomes share some similarities, the skin microbiome doesn’t digest food—its main job is to reinforce the skin barrier and support the immune system.

Why Your Skin’s Bacteria Are Kind Of A Big Deal

  • Skin Microbiome and Barrier Function: Your skin microbiome acts like a tiny army of bodyguards, constantly working to keep harmful microbes at bay. These good bacteria outcompete the bad for nutrients and create a chemical defence by maintaining your skin’s acidic environment, which helps preserve its optimal pH balance.
  • Skin Microbiome and Immune Protection: The skin microbiome is more than just a shield—these helpful microbes actively participate in everything from wound healing to fighting infections and even preventing cancer. They work closely with immune cells to detect harmful microbes and guide the body’s immune response, keeping you protected from the inside out.

The Good, The Bad, And The Breakouts

We know the skin microbiome is integral to keeping our bodies in check. But what exactly are these tiny, hardworking microbes doing behind the scenes? Let’s take a closer look at how they maintain balance beneath the microscope—and what happens when that balance tips.

 

The Good...

Introducing Cutibacterium acnes—a helpful bacterium and the backstage superstar of your skin! Found in abundance on your face, back, and chest, it helps maintain your skin’s pH by producing short-chain fatty acids that acidify the surface, making it inhospitable to harmful bacteria. This strengthens your skin barrier and helps prevent infections. But that’s not all—it also produces antimicrobial peptides, boosting your skin’s natural defence system. These microbes can even influence your immune system, dialling up or down inflammation to keep things running smoothly.

A close-up of a woman touching her rosacea-affected cheek
…The Bad, and the Breakouts

Overzealous washing, harsh skincare routines, and everyday irritants (yes, even those dirty bedsheets and pillowcases) can disrupt your skin’s delicate balance. This disruption can wipe out helpful bacteria and create an opening for harmful ones like Staphylococcus aureus to take over. Even Cutibacterium acnes can become problematic when thrown off balance—getting trapped in clogged pores and contributing to inflammation and acne. These imbalances are especially concerning for people with compromised skin barriers, increasing their risk of infections and conditions like eczema and rosacea. Studies show that those with eczema often have reduced bacterial diversity in their skin microbiome, making them more prone to irritation and flare-ups.

When Your Gut And Skin Team Up

Your gut and skin are in constant communication via the immune system and inflammatory pathways. A diet high in sugar and processed foods can trigger inflammation, leading to breakouts and other skin concerns. These reactions often reflect internal imbalances—particularly in the gut. To help restore your skin’s balance, start by feeding your gut the right nutrients:

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids (salmon, chia seeds): These powerhouse nutrients help reduce inflammation and boost gut bacterial diversity, which may help keep skin conditions like eczema and acne under control.
  • Vitamins A and D (carrots, mushrooms, eggs): These essential nutrients support skin renewal and help strengthen both the gut and skin barriers—creating an environment where good bacteria can thrive.
A woman holding up a piece of dark chocolate
  • Polyphenols (green tea, dark chocolate): These potent antioxidants help protect the skin from oxidative stress and promote the growth of good gut bacteria, contributing to healthier skin overall.
  • Water: Drinking 6–8 cups of water daily doesn’t just quench your thirst—it helps skin cells function efficiently and flush out toxins, making it your secret weapon for a glowing complexion, fewer dark circles, and smoother fine lines.

Skincare That Doesn’t Mess With Your Microbiome

While we’re all on a quest for glowing skin, some secret saboteurs might be quietly working against your skin’s microbiome. So let’s look at a few common skincare missteps that could throw it off balance—and how to steer clear of them:

  • Overusing antibacterial soaps and harsh cleansers: As tempting as it is to scrub your skin clean after sweating in Malaysia’s sweltering heat, the harsh chemicals in antibacterial soaps can indiscriminately kill both harmful and helpful bacteria. This disrupts your skin’s delicate ecosystem, causes irritation, and increases the risk of skin conditions like eczema.
  • Using too many exfoliating acids (AHAs, BHAs) without balancing hydration: I get it—sometimes your skin feels rough or looks a little shiny, and exfoliating seems like the fix. But over-exfoliating strips away your skin’s protective oils and weakens the skin barrier. This can lead to redness, increased sensitivity, and even accelerated signs of ageing.
A person applying sunscreen to their arm on a sunny day

Instead, here are some skincare tips to help you regain your footing, nurture your microbiome, and keep it stable and healthy:

  • Wear sunscreen: Yes, the sunscreen bandwagon is real—and worth hopping on! Research shows that ultraviolet (UV) radiation can reduce your skin’s microbial diversity, but sunscreen helps protect this delicate ecosystem. It not only preserves beneficial microbes from UV damage but also boosts skin resilience and shields against premature ageing.
  • Take shorter, lukewarm showers: We all love a long, steamy shower—but here’s the catch: prolonged exposure to hot water can strip your skin of beneficial microbes and disrupt its pH balance, making it more prone to acne and eczema. So, keep your showers short and sweet (or lukewarm, in this case) for a healthier skin barrier!
  • Choose prebiotic and probiotic skincare: This is skincare backed by science! Prebiotics feed the beneficial microbes on your skin, while probiotics introduce more of them to help strengthen your microbiome. When shopping, look out for ‘microbiome-friendly’ labels or check the ingredient list for prebiotic and probiotic components.

Conclusion

Instead of chasing every new skincare fad, the future of beauty lies in caring for your skin’s BFFs—its microbiome. By tuning in to what it truly needs, you’re not just pampering your skin—you’re building a lasting relationship that will benefit you for a lifetime. Because the secret to clearer, healthier skin isn’t hidden in some magic serum—it’s been there all along, just beneath the surface.
Intrigued by the invisible world of bacteria on your skin? Discover how science uncovers these secrets in our Foundation in Science programme—and later, our School of Biosciences, where the unseen becomes your field of study.

Emma Chee Luo Yi pursued Cambridge A Level at Taylor's College before attending the University of Western Australia. A law student with an artistic soul, she studies during the day and writes, draws, or crochets at night!
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