The human skin microbiome in health and skin diseases

Abstract

The human skin, as the largest organ of the human body, protects the underlying tissues and plays an important role as a front-line defense system against external environmental changes and invading pathogens. It is colonized by a unique and complex microbial ecosystem, including bacteria, fungi, and bacteriophages, some of which could become pathogenic under certain circumstances. The skin microbiota is complex. Several hundred different microbial species reside on the skin. Its composition and distribution are uniquely different from the flora of other organs.