Skin microbiome

The community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that inhabit the skin. Its members interact with the skin barrier and immune defenses, with effects that vary by body site and conditions.

Skin barrier: The outer skin structures that limit water loss and help block physical, chemical, and microbial threats. Microbes live at this boundary and can influence its integrity and defenses.
Skin: The body's outer organ, providing a protective interface with the environment. Its layered structure and surface conditions create the habitats microbes occupy.
Atopic dermatitis: A chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by itching and a disrupted skin barrier. Flare-ups often coincide with reduced microbial diversity and increased Staphylococcus aureus.
16S ribosomal RNA sequencing: A sequencing method that profiles bacteria and archaea using variable regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. It reveals bacterial membership but often cannot identify strains or measure their activity.
Cutibacterium acnes: A bacterium common in skin follicles that can be harmless or contribute to acne under particular conditions. Its behavior shifts with follicle conditions and interactions with other skin microbes.
Skin microbiota: The microorganisms present on or in the skin, considered without their ecological interactions. This narrower term distinguishes the organisms themselves from their community relationships.
Acne: A skin disease involving blocked follicles, inflammation, and lesions such as comedones and pustules. Microbial interactions in follicles can contribute, but acne is not simply an infection.
Shotgun metagenomics: Sequencing of DNA from an entire sample to characterize its organisms and genetic potential. It can resolve microbial genes and organisms beyond what targeted bacterial surveys capture.
Staphylococcus epidermidis: A common skin bacterium that can compete with pathogens and interact with host immune responses. It illustrates how resident microbes can help defend skin while also causing opportunistic infection.
Skin biogeography: The study of how biological communities vary across different regions of the skin. Oily, moist, and dry sites support distinct microbial communities.

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