The Skin’s Amazing Microbiome

By Christein Ser tzel

On the surface of every square inch of an animal’s skin are millions of microflora, secondary bacteria, funguses and environmental pathogens. Also, there are natural and beneficial residents such as mites and an ever-changing landscape of cellular material. The very surface of the skin is a tiny ecosystem teaming with life. And its climate is ever -changing and constantly inundated with stressors. The sebum, or oil of skin, comprises the skin‘s cutaneous immune system. It does this by providing a foundational groundwork for the skin’s cellular composition to reside, as well as all of the supportive inhabitants of the individual’s specific microbiome and microflora.

No two microbiomes are the same. While similar inhabitants live on the skin, the levels of all of these and secondary bacteria are unique to each individual. At any given moment there are ebbs and flows of not just moisture and pH level but the bacterial and fungal counts of any place on the skin. These fluctuations all work in natural symbiosis and towards homeostasis to provide the most protection for the entire individual. The members of the skin microbiota produce substances such as antimicrobials, adaptive protein processing enzymes and acids. These elements turn the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum of the skin into an uninhabitable environment for foreign microorganisms. Thanks to this poisonous living armor, the skin endures constant stressors from pathogens, toxins and microorganisms. crobiota are constantly in contact with a hostile, ever changing environment. The gut flora is also nicely protected from UV light. It is important to understand that there are vast differences between the microflora that reside in the gut to help support an animal’s internal and external immune system, versus the flora specific to the microbiome and the cutaneous immune system it provides.

What supports and works for something internal does not necessarily work for something on the skin. The partial proof to this is found when something might be toxic if ingested to be broken down by the digestive and circulatory system, but not toxic if applied dermally. The skin microbiota, our most outer skin layer, is in constant contact with surrounding environment. It must be far more adaptive and readily proliferate. The skin’s environment is constantly changing and often endures harsh conditions such as dryness, UV radiation,

waterborne pathogens, contact pollutants or environmental disinfectants. Microflora must endure a dry environment and periods of total water saturation and yet still thrive even with constantly changing temperatures. The microorganisms on the skin are constantly exposed to UV light. The bacterial food supply is scarce. The skin microbiota only receives dead skin cells, sebum, sweat and oxidized skin lipids for dinner. But all considered they still continue to flourish by the millions per square inch. Each type of microflora plays a vital role with others. When one is struggling for balance, another may surge forward and multiply. These shifts happen when things like 1) dead skin surface cells begin to accumulate, or 2) water or dirt containing its own population of bacteria and fungus comes into contact with the skin, or 3) when an underlying health issue causes changes to the skin fibers or alters its moisture/oil levels. 18 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reservedSuch is the case when a fungal prolifer- Subscribe www.egroomer.com

ation such as yeast takes hold and can be quite difficult to get rid of without understanding how the skin works and what yeast uses in order to thrive there. When we bathe a dog, the shampoo cleansers actively remove bacteria and microflora with extreme prejudice. This means they take everything at once and do not discern between the good and the bad. Therefore, it’s very important to be non-intrusive with our cleansers as much as possible. It is imperative to address a final conditioning process for the skin to help it replenish moisture removed so that the body can bounce back and replace the beneficial microflora and sebum removed during the bathing regimen. This is one reason why groomers should consider using medicated shampoos in repeated cycles on dogs that are already showing symptoms of skin problems. If we eradicate what the skin needs to attain homeostasis when its already struggling to normalize, we are only adding to the problem instead of (Continued on page 19)

the solution. Currently there are products in the works trying to provide “microbiome health,” but it is difficult to do so by actually feeding microbiome levels due to the active nature of a cleansing and conditioning formula. It is also difficult because of the chemical production process and the preservatives that must also cohabitate within a formula to make it safe for lengthy use and shelf life. It is much better to understand that certain products currently being manufactured support the microbiome by being less invasive, gentler, having enhanced active ingredients helping to recondition skin and coat. The pet cosmetic industry follows the human cosmetic industry, and current fad or trends will promote products being designed to follow suit for the consumer. Sometimes there are genuinely new developments in formulation sophistication, but sometimes it is simply redesigned existing products or ingredients with a fresh set of verbiage. It is always important to try new things as they become available to use, but also eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reservedto understand the science behind them 19

for what it really is when making those purchases. Choosing products and topicals is an ongoing process of elimination for an ever-evolving menu of choices. I am constantly buying every new liquid topical tool our industry creates. Trying new products keeps us engaged and focuses our attention on what each product elicits. As with so many things in life- be wary of the marketing and rely on the science. When it comes to choosing products, find something you like, research it, and if it works for you trust your experience, and not just the marketing. ◄ Sources & Reading https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/commonmites-and-skin-disease-an-overview https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S037811351931493 https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/ article_page/ Prebioics_Are_they_weapons_for_preservatives/162210 https://everyone.plos.org/2015/03/30/let-microbes-paw -print-doggy-skin-bacteria/https:// secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.153/1c7.aad.myftpupload.com/ wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Optimizing-Skin-and-CoatCondition-in-the-Dog-1.pdf?time=1649285987 https://www.msprebiotic.ca/blogs/news/what-happenswhen-you-lower-the-ph-of-your microbiome