BioDefender™

		Facts About Microbes Normal Skin Flora
Resident Normal Flora Different species of micro flora resides normally on the skin surface without causing harmful effects under the optimum conditions of the skin. Some of this resident flora may change their behavior and become pathogenic under certain circumstances. Normal resident flora of the skin includes the following species: Aerobic Gram positive cocci Staphylococci, Micrococci, Gram-positive rods and diphtheroids Anaerobes Propionibacterium species: in the deeper part of the hair follicles, aerobic cocci and Pityrosporum sp. yeast present on the surface of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands P. Acnes, P.granulosum reside on the face and upper trunk at the pubertal age, having a role in the pathogenesis of acne Streptococcus pyogenes carriers in the throat are about 10% of the normal population, while carriers in the anterior nares are less Natural antibiotic production by some other members of the throat flora may contribute to resistance to colonization by Strep. Pyogenes, but carriage is often not eradicated by therapeutic antibiotics There are no resident bacteria usually in the sweat glands. The normal flora of skin has probably a defense mechanism against bacterial infection. P. Acne and Gram positive cocci cause split of fatty acids into free fatty acids and triglycerides, which cause skin irritation and inflammation as the case in Acne. Sebum alone or the acidic pH is not the defense mechanism as was previously considered. Some strains of normal skin flora can produce antibiotics capable of inhibiting other micro-organisms.

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