A Dermatologist Explains: What is the Skin Microbiome?
Your skin is home to trillions of living organisms—bacteria, fungi, viruses and even tiny mites—collectively known as the skin microbiome. Far from being harmful, these microbes protect against infection, calm inflammation and strengthen your skin barrier. Together, they form a living ecosystem that works hand in hand with your skin cells and immune system.
Why It’s Hard to Change Your Microbiome
Your body’s microbiome begins developing at birth. How you were delivered (vaginal vs. C-section), whether you grew up with pets and even early exposures can all influence its diversity. A more diverse microbiome in early life may reduce the risk of eczema and allergies.
Once established, your microbiome is remarkably stable—and hard to shift long-term. A single course of antibiotics can lower gut and skin diversity for up to a year. Improving diversity requires consistent lifestyle changes such as:
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Eating more fruits, vegetables and fiber
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Reducing stress and getting adequate sleep
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Exercising regularly
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Adding fermented foods and well-formulated probiotics
These changes must be sustained to support lasting balance.
Skincare’s Role: Foundation vs. Frontline
While lifestyle sets the foundation for a healthy microbiome, skincare is the frontline. Too many products or irritating products can disrupt your skin barrier and microbiome almost immediately. Over-washing or using too many actives alters the skin’s pH, making it harder for healthy microbes to survive.
The good news? Well-formulated, supportive skincare can speed up recovery. Choosing gentle, hypoallergenic products made with ingredients your skin can use (and not just sit on top of it) help restore the microbiome’s balance and keep the protective acid mantle intact. All of my skincare products fit this description which is why they work so well for sensitive and rosacea prone skin.
Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics in Skincare
You’ll see many microbiome-friendly products marketed today, but the science is still early:
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Prebiotics = food for microbes (e.g., plant sugars or fibers)
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Probiotics = live organisms (very difficult to keep stable in skincare)
- Postbiotics = beneficial peptides and by-products made through fermentation
Right now, prebiotics and postbiotics are more reliable in skincare than probiotics, since living organisms are hard to stabilize in a jar. For example, I use leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate in my line of Doctor Rogers Skin Care as a biodegradable antimicrobial preservative—it’s effective, well studied, and safe.
Probiotics show promise for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, acne and rosacea, but regulation is lacking. Concentrations, organisms and claims vary widely, and more research is needed.
Takeaway: Think of microbiome-focused topicals as a bonus, not a replacement for lifestyle or barrier-supportive basics.
The Acid Mantle: Why pH Matters
The skin microbiome and pH are inseparable. Healthy skin maintains a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5—your acid mantle. This acidity helps natural oils work properly and provides a safe home for beneficial microbes.
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Washing too often or layering too many products can raise pH, disrupting the microbiome
- When the acid mantle is disturbed, the skin barrier weakens, making it more prone to irritation and inflammation
- Restoring pH balance with gentle cleansers and supportive moisturizers helps the microbiome recover
The Mistake People Make
When skin becomes irritated, many assume they need more products. In reality, this often worsens the cycle. The skin only needs a few well-chosen, well-formulated products to stay balanced.
This philosophy guided me in creating Doctor Rogers Skin Care: using the fewest possible hypoallergenic, plant-based and thoroughly studied ingredients to achieve outstanding results—supporting your skin without overwhelming it.
FAQs About the Skin Microbiome
Can skincare products really change your microbiome?
They can influence it—but usually in the short term. Harsh products disrupt it quickly, while supportive ones help recovery. Long-term diversity comes more from lifestyle than products.
What’s the difference between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics in skincare?
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Prebiotics = food for microbes
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Probiotics = live microbes (unstable in skincare)
- Postbiotics = beneficial by-products of microbes (more stable and promising)
Does your skin’s pH affect your microbiome?
Yes. Skin is healthiest at ~5.5. Over-cleansing or using too many products or too strong of actives raises pH, making it harder for good microbes to survive.
What’s the best way to keep your skin microbiome healthy?
Support your barrier with well formulated, supportive skincare, and support your whole body with a healthy lifestyle—balanced diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
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