A significant difference in the skin microbiome was reported between younger and older adults, in the new study by the Jackson Laboratory.
This, the authors say, is linked to physical changes in the skin with ageing.
There has been much debate over why our skin wrinkles with age.
It is thought that around 90% of skin aging is ‘extrinsic’, i.e. due to external factors. Therefore, contributors such as genetics, exposure to the sun, and even sleep quality, have been suggested.
It is early days so the extent of the relationship between the skin microbiome and aging is unclear.
It needs much more investigation, but this study joins a growing list highlighting that the skin microbiome could be just as important as the gut for whole body health.
Is it time to start protecting and nourishing our skin microbiome?
