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 offers clues into what’s occurring beneath the floor when it comes to immune perform, vitamin, oxidative stress, and metabolic points, to call just a few, nevertheless 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 advised us. “The pores and skin microbiome is continually interacting with our surroundings and works to assist 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.”