Sebum is Not the Enemy: Understanding the Balance for Healthy Skin
For those with oily skin and acne, the common belief is that excess sebum is the root cause of their skin issues. As a result, many resort to frequent cleansing and exfoliating to reduce sebum production. However, this approach misunderstands the essential role of sebum in skin health.
Why Sebum Matters
Sebum acts as our skin's natural moisturizer and plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin. It nourishes important bacteria that keep our skin in balance. Without adequate sebum, these beneficial bacteria lack the nourishment needed to contribute to skin health.
When sebum levels are maintained, the sebaceous glands naturally regulate themselves, producing less sebum. However, excessive cleansing can strip away sebum, causing the glands to overcompensate and produce more, leading to an imbalance.
The Role of C. acnes
This imbalance creates a favorable environment for C. acnes bacteria, which are linked to acne. They thrive on excess sebum, leading to increased bacterial growth. Moreover, C. acnes convert sebum into fatty acids that can clog pores, creating irritation and inflammation, ultimately resulting in pimples.
Finding the Balance
Conclusion: We should not target all the sebum since we want to maintain its protective properties for the skin. Instead, we should curb the growth of the C. acnes bacteria, which makes sebum harmful.
I hear you thinking: how can I kill all the C. acnes bacterie? Well don’t! That's not a good idea. As long as C. acnes doesn't overgrow, it plays a crucial protective role in keeping the skin healthy. Without C. acnes, the skin would be constantly irritated.
The Prebiotic Solution
We mainly want the population of microorganisms to be balanced, ensuring that everyone can contribute to keeping the skin healthy. No overgrowth, but also no undergrowth.
The solution? Prebiotics! These feed the beneficial bacteria without killing pathogens (like C. acnes), unlike antibiotics. They ensure no bacteria becomes dominant and help restore the natural balance.
Prebiotics in nourist
Our mild micellar water is enriched with prebiotics, allowing you to cleanse your skin effectively (and remove excess sebum, but not all!) without disrupting its microbiome. Additionally, our beyond blemishes serum and upcoming nourish products contain prebiotics to support skin health.
In conclusion, sebum should not be viewed as the enemy. By understanding its role and using products that promote a balanced microbiome, you can achieve healthier, clearer skin.
Disclaimer: The story about the micro-organisms and bacteria is a bit more complex than I wrote above. I aimed to make it understandable for everyone, so I didn't mention all the processes involved. This is a summary, and the solution—prebiotics—remains the same.
