3 ms·

I Skipped Showering for Two Weeks and Bathed in Bacteria Instead

• zeveb 10y ago
  > “Our research shows that [the skin microbiome] is remarkably stable,” said Julia Oh of the Jackson Laboratory. “We’re always showering, and washing our hands using antibiotic products, and being touched by people [in different environments].” And for all of this, our microbiome doesn’t actually change very much, she explained—in the same way that, just because you encounter a virus of some kind on the subway, you won’t necessarily pick it up and get sick. We’re good at fighting off the invaders. Mightn't it be that the bacteria found on a modern soap-using human's skin are remarkably stable with respect to soap usage, while those found elsewhere might not be? It also wouldn't surprise me if it turns out the re-establishing bacteria once exterminated turns out to be extremely tough, while keeping the proper proportions constant might not be too difficult.