We may not see them, but we need them.

An estimated one hundred trillion microorganisms inhabit the human body.  This includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and mites.  There are gut, skin, respiratory, bone and even nervous system microbiomes – and this may be an incomplete list.  We are only beginning to understand how these microbial communities impact health and disease.

Dr. Yoon Cohen has started a web site called Skin Microbiome that will serve as a repository for the emerging literature on this subject.  Disorders such as acne, atopic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, seborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis, skin ulcers and many more appear to be caused or exacerbated by an imbalance in the skin’s microbial community  (“dysbiosis”). This understanding will guide us to the next generation of therapeutic options for many skin disorders.

Please visit Skin Microbiome periodically for the latest updates.