Community Update (12/1/24)

Wellness

Medicare Open Enrollment Season

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Take some time to ensure that your Medicare Prescription Drug coverage is right for you. Your needs change and plan offerings change each year so it is important to do an annual “checkup.” Arlington offers free Medicare counseling from well-trained volunteers through VICAP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program). Learn how to use the Medicare Plan finder and other tools to maximize savings. Please sign up by visiting this website, emailing Medicarehelp@arlingtonva.us or calling 703-228-1725.

Having Skin in the Game with a Balanced Skin Microbiome, by Joan Smith

Taking care of our skin seems to involve frequent use of many substances, and the numbers increase as we age. But are these substances healthy or harmful? The skin barrier is considered the first line of defense against pathogens that may cause infection, inflammation and disease. When the barrier is broken, such as by a cut, ulcer, or puncture, an avenue is created for pathogens to enter our bodies. But microbes live on top of our skin (as well as in our gut, organs and orifices), and they play a huge part in body defense.

The National Institutes of Health (website) describes the microbiome as “the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. Although microbes require a microscope to see them, they contribute in big ways to human health and wellness. They protect us against pathogens, help our immune system develop, and enable us to digest food to produce energy.

So, how do they work? They act as the interface between our body and the environment, and can even affect how we respond to certain substances around us. Some microbes alter environmental substances in ways that make them more toxic, while others act as a buffer and make substances less harmful (NIH). And, the more diverse the microbiome, the lower the risk of disease.

In the Health section of the Washington Post (Tuesday, November 19, 2024), Amanda Morris enlightens us about the skin microbiome and why it matters. She points out that decreased exposure to nature and its’ microbes has been shown to contribute to an imbalance of our skin microbe mix, thus decreasing “good” microbes that contribute to our immunity, or worse, increasing the population of “bad” microbes that may contribute to chronic diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. And research suggests some links exist with this imbalance and chronic conditions that are not on the skin, such as asthma, tooth decay, inflammatory bowel disease and some arthritis. Differences in the microbiome interacting with the environment may also help determine an individual’s susceptibility to certain illnesses, and increase the likelihood of developing conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and liver disease (NIH).

Protecting the skin from damage fosters good microbes. But some chemicals, skin cleansers, shampoos and makeups can change the pH of the skin from its natural average value of 4.7 (slightly acidic), thus decreasing the natural antimicrobial defense of the skin. And some products dry the skin, possibly allowing disease-causing organisms to pass through the skin’s barrier, going deep into tissues; the body then responds with inflammation that can become systemic, and chronic, over time. Morris cites research that points out that once you lose “good” bacteria, it takes them a long time to come back.

So, what can we do about it?

Research is growing that suggests more contact with animals, plants and other parts of the natural world can help improve the diversity of the skin’s microbiome. Studies of more isolated rural communities find lower rates of allergies and other conditions. A 2020 study of  urban day-care centers found that when they added forest floor and sod materials, after 28 days the children had more diverse skin microbes and fewer inflammatory substances in their blood plus more regulatory immune cells. In another study, healthy city-dwellers were asked to indoor garden; those who received soil rich with many microbes as compared to those receiving microbe poor soil, had more diverse skin microbes and more anti-inflammatory substances in their blood.

Wow!  The results of these (and many more) studies suggest some changes in our behavior, such as children being allowed to play in the garden dirt (and not bathe it off immediately). Adults should shower less often, and moderate our use of antibacterial soaps and household cleaners. We need to read the fine print on our face/skin/haircare products. Knowing what (and the pH) we are putting on our skin and scalp is a start.  We should all be more in contact with nature (I suggest Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing), as well as lots of contact with our (or friends’) pets. Giving up a “clean freak” philosophy may be a 180 degree change in how we interface with the world. But it also gives us permission to “go out and play in the dirt”!!