Understanding Ocean Swimming's Impact on Your Skin Microbiome
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Chapter 1: The Skin Microbiome and Its Importance
Recent research indicates that swimming in the ocean can significantly alter the bacteria on our skin, potentially increasing vulnerability to infections.
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Section 1.1: Research Overview
At the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), findings were shared that highlight unforeseen health implications from ocean swimming. Marisa Chattman Nielsen, a PhD student at the University of California, Irvine, led the study, which involved sampling swimmers' skin before and after they entered the ocean. Samples were taken immediately, six hours later, and again 24 hours post-swim.
The term “microbiome” refers to the various bacteria that inhabit different environments, with the human gut microbiome being the most widely studied. However, researchers are increasingly investigating other microbiomes, such as those on our skin, in our mouths, and even in marine settings.
Subsection 1.1.1: Initial Findings
Before entering the water, the swimmers exhibited a diverse array of skin bacteria, reflecting the unique conditions each person encounters. After swimming, however, their skin microbiomes became strikingly similar, as their usual bacteria were replaced by oceanic microbes. The study only identified the bacteria at the genus level, but notable findings included the presence of Vibrio bacteria, which encompasses the species that causes cholera.
Section 1.2: Duration of Ocean Bacteria Presence
The bacteria from the ocean lingered on the skin for several hours. Most swimmers still had these ocean-derived microbes six hours after swimming, but by the 24-hour mark, their skin had largely reverted to its normal bacterial composition.
Chapter 2: Health Risks Associated with Ocean Swimming
The first video titled "The skin microbiome: a healthy bacterial balance" delves into how maintaining a balanced microbiome is crucial for skin health and the implications of changes caused by external factors.
While swimming in the ocean generally does not pose a high risk for illness, there are exceptions. Swimming in contaminated waters or with open wounds can elevate the risk of infections from waterborne bacteria. Rare conditions, such as cholera or antibiotic-resistant infections, can arise if these bacteria infiltrate the body.
Infections from flesh-eating bacteria have affected a limited number of individuals in Florida over the past decade, with an average of 11 fatalities each year. Notably, the study's participants were asked to air dry rather than shower post-swim, allowing researchers to assess the persistence of ocean bacteria.
The implications of these findings may be particularly significant for children and the elderly, who may have weaker immune systems and thus be at higher risk for infections. As the field of skin health treatments that consider the skin microbiome evolves, studies like this emphasize the importance of understanding not just gut bacteria but all microbial companions on our bodies.
The second video titled "Bacteria eat very different things which affect CO2 sequestration in the deep ocean" explores how marine bacteria contribute to ecological balance, further emphasizing the complexity and importance of microbial life in various environments.
Sam Westreich, who holds a PhD in genetics, focuses on gut-associated microbiome studies and currently works in a Silicon Valley bioinformatics startup. Follow him on Twitter at @swestreich.