Skip to content
Tool·Lifes /Everything About Microbes
Apps
Explore Guides Search
Beneficial allies

SSkin microbiome

A site-specific living film — oily, moist and dry neighbourhoods, not a sterile wrapper.

Also called: Skin microbiota ? Cutaneous flora

OverviewIdentityHow they liveBody & healthHistoryEveryday lifeFrontiersMyths
9 min read Frequently asked questions

Reviewed 2026-08·Sources & research·Media credits

Close view of human skin as a microbial habitat
Darryl Leja, NHGRI ? Public domain

Quick facts

Oily, moist and dry sites host different communitiesSite mosaic
About 4.5–5.5 on much of adult skinTypical pH
Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, Malassezia yeastsCommon residents
2009 — Grice et al., Science, 20 skin sitesMap paper
Healthy skin is occupied; occupancy can be protectiveNot sterile
Ordinary washing removes dirt; it does not make a desertSoap vs sterilise

The skin microbiome is a site-specific film of bacteria, yeasts and other residents. Oily T-zones, moist folds and dry forearms are different neighbourhoods.

Healthy skin is not sterile. Acid, occupancy and lipids make it harder for some invaders to bloom.

This atlas is ecology, not a cosmetics prescription or a culture protocol.

The profile

625570228040
  • Familiarity62
  • Medical weight55
  • Benefit70
  • Risk22
  • Research80
  • Live debate40

Risk

22 / 100

A site-specific living film — oily, moist and dry neighbourhoods, not a sterile wrapper.

Seven ways into this topic

01

Identity

A living film that differs by oil, moisture and body site — not a sterile wrapper.

Read ?

 02

How they live

Sebum, sweat, folds and the slow recovery after a wash.

Read ?

 03

Body & health

Barrier training, odour, acne politics and the limits of sterilising gels.

Read ?

 04

History

From Unna and Sabouraud to 16S maps of twenty sites.

Read ?

 05

Everyday life

Washing, moisturiser, sports gear and not chasing zero.

Read ?

 06

Frontiers

What a healthy map is, whether live products help, and how cities change our film.

Read ?

 07

Myths

Not sterile; not dirtier-is-better; acne is not a moral stain.

Read ?

Frequently asked questions

Is healthy skin sterile?
No. It is an ecosystem of bacteria, yeasts and mites.
Why does the face differ from the forearm?
Sebum, sweat and folds change who can live there.
Does antibacterial soap make skin healthier?
For home use, plain soap plus time usually suffices.
Is acne caused by being dirty?
No. Cutibacterium acnes is a common resident. Inflammation matters more than a morality tale.
Do skin probiotics replace a dermatologist?
No. This page is not a treatment plan.
Can I culture my face at home?
This atlas does not provide culture methods.
Are all skin microbes allies?
Most are residents. A few opportunists invade broken skin.
Is this medical advice?
No. Educational only. Licensed clinicians diagnose skin disease.

Sources & research

  1. Skin flora2026 · Wikipedia
  2. Grice et al. 20092009 · Science

Media credits

More in Beneficial allies

Gut microbiome

A diverse intestinal community fed by fibre — not a single ideal species list and not a wellness shop.

Familiarity 88

Probiotics

Live microbes in food or capsules — strain-specific guests, not a whole microbiome and not medical advice.

Familiarity 90

Fermentation

Microbes turning food into kimchi, doenjang, yoghurt and other living crafts — chemistry plus culture.

Familiarity 85

Soil microbes

The hidden workforce of land — decomposers, mycorrhizae and a mostly uncultured majority.

Familiarity 48

Nitrogen cycle

How microbes move nitrogen between air, soil, water and food — plus the industrial shortcut that feeds billions.

Familiarity 40