Various types of bacteria that can live on your skin & bull; hello healthy

Skin, the largest human organ

The skin is the largest and widest human organ compared to other organs in the body, even its surface area can reach approximately 6-7 m2. Human skin functions to protect humans from various exposures to the external environment such as bacteria, viruses, maintain body temperature, and as a means of touch so that they can touch and feel hot and cold.

Basically, human skin is divided into three layers, namely:

Epidermis layer, is the outermost layer of skin that forms our skin color.
The dermis layer is a layer that is under the epidermis layer and consists of various connective tissues, sweat glands, and the roots of fine hairs.
The inner layer of the subcutaneous or hypodermal tissue, which consists of connective tissue and fat deposits.

Because the skin is the outermost layer of the body, it is often exposed to various foreign substances that can infect the body. Therefore, the skin is often at risk for infection to protect human internal organs. However, the skin is not easily infected or exposed to various bacteria from the environment, because the epidermis is actually a tough physical barrier capable of repelling bacteria and various toxins that can infect the body.

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Skin bacteria that cause skin diseases

Bacteria are microscopic living things that can live almost anywhere and have millions of species. Meanwhile, the human body is the host for bacteria or a natural place for bacteria to live which is good and suitable for their growth. The skin is the "wall" of the immune system because it is the first barrier against bacterial infection from the outside environment. However, it turns out that there are several factors that can affect the growth, number, and type of skin bacteria, namely:

Different skin locations, different bacteria

Some bacteria can survive only in a humid environment, and vice versa. Meanwhile, the skin on the human body has different moisture. In general, the number of bacteria is relatively small in the parts that often secrete oil, such as on the forehead, behind the ears, around the nose. In these parts, the type of bacteria that can grow is propionibacterium spp.

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While the types of bacteria that grow in humid areas are Corynecbaterium spp and Staphylococcus . Both types of bacteria are found in the area around the navel, armpits, groin, the folds between the thighs and the buttocks, the back of the knees, the soles of the feet, and the inside of the elbows. Sometimes, if the number is too much these two types can cause infection and cause skin disease.

For parts of the skin that tend to be dry, such as the arms of the hands, is the place where various types of bacteria are most abundant, such as Actiobacteria, proteobacteria, firmicutes , and bacteriodetes . These bacteria are a type of gram-negative bacteria, namely bacteria that are not very resistant to changing environmental conditions, so they easily die and stop growing.

Some bacterial growth is temporary

Bacterial growth depends on time, and has its own level of consistency. In areas where only one or several types of bacteria are growing, such as the inside of the ear and nose, the growth of bacteria in that place is stable. Whereas the part of the skin that is overgrown with many types of bacteria, the level of stability is less and the colonies of these bacteria often die easily, for example on the heels, feet, arms, toes and hands.

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Each person's skin type affects the skin bacteria

The type and number of bacteria that can grow on the surface of the skin depends on the properties of the skin surface and its moisture. There are types of bacteria that can survive in humid conditions, and vice versa. In addition, each person may also have different types and amounts of skin bacteria. This is shown in studies that looked at the number of microorganisms on a person's hands.

A group that frequently washed their hands had about 13% bacteria, while the other group who did not wash their hands often reached 68.1% of bacteria growing on their hands.

Skin disease caused by bacterial skin infection

Several types of bacteria such as corynebacterium, brevibacterium , and acinobacter not too dangerous for the body. But sometimes other types of bacteria can be dangerous because they enter the skin layer of the body, damage the skin and cause skin disease. The bacteria that cause skin infections are usually gram-positive bacteria, eg stapylococcus and streptococcus . The following are diseases that may arise if infected with skin bacteria:

1. Cellulitis

Namely a skin disease that causes pain, redness, and warmth to the touch. This disease usually occurs on the feet, but can still be experienced in various other areas of the skin.

2. Folliculitis

Namely an infection of the hair follicles that causes the scalp to become red, small swelling like pimples. It is not advisable to soak in the pool or in hot water if you are experiencing this condition, because it will make things worse. This folliculitis is caused by a bacterial infection S.aureus and Aeroginous pseudomans .

3. Impetigo

These are the red spots usually experienced by preschoolers on the face and some parts of the hands or feet. Impetigo is caused by bacteria S.aureus and S.pyogenes .

4. Boils

Is a deep skin infection that is initially caused by infection of the hair follicle / hair. The boil that appears is usually red, small swelling, and contains pus.

This skin disease caused by bacterial infection can be treated with oral antibiotics or topical drugs, depending on each type and the number of infecting bacteria.

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