.png)
Swimming is a widely enjoyed physical activity that provides various health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular fitness, enhanced muscle strength, and reduced stress levels. Nevertheless, swimming also involves exposure to different water environments, including chlorinated pools, seawater, and freshwater lakes. Each of these environments possesses distinct chemical and microbial properties that can uniquely affect the skin microbiome. Consequently, comprehending the significance of the skin microbiome in swimming is essential.
What we know:
Studies have found that exposure to chlorinated pool water reduces microbial diversity on the skin, as it acts as a disinfectant, killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria, which can lead to an imbalance in the skin microbiome. This imbalance may increase the risk of skin conditions like dermatitis and infections (Puce et al., 2022).
Ocean water contains a diverse range of marine bacteria, thereby enhancing the diversity of the skin microbiome. The ocean water simultaneously removes resident skin bacteria while depositing ocean-borne bacteria onto the skin (Nielsen et al., 2019).
The predominating phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria on the skin changed after swimming when compared to before swimming tends to decrease, whereas Bacteroidetes tends to increase. As time passed, the bacterial community composition trended towards baseline (Nielsen et al., 2019).
The quantity of Vibrio spp. found on human skin was over ten times higher than that in the ocean water sample (which was only 0.032%), indicating that Vibrio spp. has a particular affinity for adhering to human skin (Nielsen et al., 2019).
Industry impact & potential:
Research shows that males are more prone to acquiring infections from Vibrio vulnificus and Aeromonas spp. following water exposure. Future research could provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to these infections and explore potential differences in the skin microbiome between males and females after such exposure (Nielsen et al., 2019).
Formulations such as post and pre-swim cleansers and moisturizers should be designed to aid in microbiome recovery while also protecting the skin from chlorine and salt damage.
Our solution:
Sequential, is a company focusing on microbiome studies. We carry out various services from clinical testing to helping with formulations. We have at home testing kits that will allow you to discover the state of your skin microbiome. Through our Skin Health Tracker app, we can give you tips on how you can improve your skin and the microbiome.
Reference:
Nielsen MC, Jiang SC. Alterations of the human skin microbiome after ocean water
exposure. Mar Pollut Bull. 2019 Aug;145:595-603. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.06.047. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31590829; PMCID: PMC8061468.
Puce L, Hampton-Marcell J, Trabelsi K, Ammar A, Chtourou H, Boulares A, Marinelli L, Mori
L, Cotellessa F, Currà A, Trompetto C, Bragazzi NL. Swimming and the human microbiome at the intersection of sports, clinical, and environmental sciences: A scoping review of the literature. Front Microbiol. 2022 Aug 3;13:984867. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.984867. PMID: 35992695; PMCID: PMC9382026.
Comments