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Related Experiment Videos

Human Skin Is the Largest Epithelial Surface for Interaction with Microbes.

Richard L Gallo1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|April 12, 2017
PubMed
Summary

The skin microbiome, including microbes within follicles, offers a vast surface area for interaction, potentially influencing human health more than previously estimated. This highlights the significant systemic impact of skin microbes.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Dermatology
  • Human Microbiome

Background:

  • Human skin hosts a diverse microbial population.
  • Skin microbes interact with host cells, altering cell function.
  • Previous research overlooked the follicular aspect of the skin microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reassess the total surface area of the skin's interface with its microbiome.
  • To estimate the systemic impact of the skin microbiome by including follicular surfaces.
  • To highlight the underappreciated role of the skin microbiome in human health.

Main Methods:

  • Calculated the surface area of the inner follicular epithelium.
  • Calculated the surface area of the interfollicular epithelial surface.
  • Compared follicular and interfollicular surface areas.

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Main Results:

  • The inner follicular surface represents a significant area for microbial interaction.
  • The total skin surface available for microbiome interaction is vastly larger than previously estimated.
  • The skin microbiome's potential for systemic influence is substantially underestimated.

Conclusions:

  • The skin microbiome, particularly within follicles, provides a vast interface for host-microbe interactions.
  • The underestimation of follicular surface area significantly limits our understanding of the skin microbiome's systemic effects.
  • Future research should consider the full extent of the skin's epithelial surface when evaluating microbiome impact.