MyMicrobiome Standard 38.10 / 38.11 - face and body

A weakened skin barrier or the disturbed balance between different skin microbes can lead to skin diseases or even systemic diseases throughout the body.
With the 38.10 / 38.11 standard, we test textiles that have an influence on the skin microbiome in the face and body of an adult. These areas are very individual and are divided into dry, moist and oily skin areas. The textile products to be tested are found in our everyday clothing such as jeans, sweaters, gloves and underwear. But also toilet paper and other textiles in hygiene products can be tested and certified.

The skin is divided into dry, moist and sebaceous zones.

Dry skin areas

Dry skin areas such as arms or legs are dominated by

C. tuberculostearicum
C. acnes
S. mitis
S. oralis
M. luteus
M. globosa

Moist skin areas

Moist skin areas such as the navel, armpits or soles of the feet are mainly populated by

C. tuberculostearicum
C. simulans
S. epidermidis
S. capitis
S. hominis
C. acnes
M. globosa

Sebaceous areas

On sebaceous areas such as the forehead, nose or back a healthy, balanced skin microbiome is predominantly populated by

C. acnes
S. epidermidis
S. capitis
S. hominis
S. mitis
C. simulans
M. globosa

Due to the diversity of microorganisms on the distinct areas of the skin, different key germs are exposed to the textiles to be tested for the MyMicrobiome Standards 38.10 / 38.11 depending on the area of application.

The certification procedure

The textile product undergoes four test phases as part of the "Microbiome-friendly" certification.

1. Quality test

The quality test ensures that the textile products are sterile, and our microbiological tests can be carried out with the skin microorganisms. Therefore, textiles are first washed according to the manufacturers' instructions beforehand. A screening examines the occurrence of mesophilic and aerobic microorganisms. For decontamination, the products are UV-irradiated or autoclaved. Hygiene products are sterilized through UV light exposure.

2. Balance test

The balance between the most common skin microbe S. epidermidis and the harmful bacterium S. aureus should not be disturbed by the textile product. A co-culture with both bacterial strains is mixed with the textile for a certain time and then the ratio of the two microbes is compared with the untreated control group. This must not change in favor of S. aureus under the influence of the textile product.

3. Diversity test

Microbes typical for the face and body are cultivated for the different skin areas. A co-culture of specific microbes for one skin area is added to the textile to be tested and the change in diversity is compared with the untreated control group. The diversity of the skin microbiome must be maintained with respect to the most important key microbes.

4. Vitality test

A microbiome-friendly textile product for face and body should also not undesirably influence the vitality of the individual microbes of a skin area. This test simulates direct skin contact of the microbes - considered individually. The growth of the microorganisms is compared with an untreated control group. The growth of the microbes must neither be reduced nor stimulated.

"The skin microbiome plays an important role in human health, so it is essential that textiles, which are used by people on a daily basis, are also examined for the human skin microbiome. It is surprising that so little attention has been paid to textiles in relation to the microbiome, even though they have a direct influence on it."

Sarah de Visser, Textile Specialist