ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Skin flora

Hello there! Do you know what your skin is? It's the outer covering on your body that protects your insides from getting hurt. But did you know that there are tiny living things living on your skin too? They are called skin flora.

Skin flora are like friendly germs that live on your skin. They are too small to see with your eyes but they are very important in keeping you healthy. You can think of them like tiny pets that live on your skin. These tiny pets actually help you in a lot of ways. Let me tell you how.

Firstly, skin flora help to protect your skin from harmful germs that could make you sick. They do that by using up all the space on your skin, preventing bad bacteria from settling in.

Secondly, they also help to make sure that your skin stays healthy by keeping it hydrated and prevent dryness.

Lastly, they help to strengthen your immune system, which is your body's defense system that helps fight off any germs that could make you sick.

Sometimes, when you take a bath or use soap, you wash away some of the skin flora. That is why it is important to take care of your skin by not using too much soap, because it can wash away too much skin flora and make you more prone to sickness.

In summary, skin flora are little microscopic pets that live on your skin and help keep you healthy by protecting your skin, helping it stay hydrated, and strengthening your immune system. And it's important to take care of your skin by not using too much soap or washing away too much skin flora.