[Research on the wisdom between defensins and antiseptics at the skin surface]

The density in the natural bacterial flora is quite controlled at the skin surface. The barrier to their penetration inside the body is a major function of the stratum corneum. Its more or less anfractuous structure, its hydration and acidic pH are important to maintain the microbiological equilibrium. The non-immune innate or inducible natural defenses rely on the production of epithelial peptide antibiotics (defensins, calprotectin) by keratinocytes. The phagocytic and immune defenses are superimposed to such mechanisms. This whole conundrum may be helped by, but it may also suffer from some skin care products and antiseptics.