As we talked about, your pores and skin is a dwelling, purposeful organ—and it does a lot to guard you. “The pores and skin not solely provides clues into what’s occurring beneath the floor by way of immune operate, vitamin, oxidative stress, and metabolic points, to call just a few, however it’s the physique’s first line of protection towards an infection, environmental stressors, and lack of vitamins and water,” board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D., as soon as told us. “The skin microbiome is consistently interacting with our surroundings and works to help our well being by defending towards an infection, influencing the immune response, defending towards UV radiation, and helps present nourishment to the pores and skin cells.”