Good
news for us, holobionts! Nature has made available for free an entire
issue dedicated to the microbiome of the human skin. Plenty of
interesting data about all the members of the human holobiont: the
mammal and the bacteria together.
There
are over 1000 species of bacteria for every single mammal, and these
bacteria are doing a lot of good things for the whole biont, including
protecting us from external infections. One thing they say is:
"researchers have uncovered evidence of extensive communication between bacteria, skin cells and immune cells. These interactions help to reinforce and repair the barrier formed by the skin, bolster the body’s defences against infection and tamp down excess inflammation."
So, wash your hands only when it is really necessary and don't use aggressive chemicals: otherwise you'll weaken your resistance to bad microbes. Your skin microbiome loves you, don't kill it!
Here is the link to the issue and, as always, onward, fellow holobionts!
