Reviews and Research in Medical Microbiology, 2024 (Scopus)
The human skin, our body's largest organ, serves primarily as a protective barrier from the external environment. Our surroundings teem with a rich diversity of microbes, bringing the skin into constant contact with a myriad of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The skin's microbiota composition can undergo alterations due to various factors. Such shifts can lead to microbiome imbalances, known as dysbiosis, which may result in an overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria or a reduction in beneficial bacterial populations. Dysbiosis has been linked to certain skin conditions. The skin microbiota plays a critical role in initiating and shaping the host's immune response. Additionally, the presence and significance of fungi in nearly all mucosal microbiomes are gaining attention, sparking interest in their potential impacts on health and disease. This paper explores the developmental trajectory of the human skin microbiome during the first year of life, illustrating an increase in microbial diversity as infants' age. The review further examines the interplay between the gut and skin microbiota in skin ailments and discusses the microbiota associated with the vagina and diabetic foot.