Medically Reviewed by Dr Ali, FRCP (Edinburgh), FRCP (London), MBBS, MRCS, LRCP, DCH, DRCOG, MRCGP
What is a Biome?
Simply put, a biome is any habitat that sustains the life within it. Biomes exist all over the world, evolving, nurturing, and protecting the communities they support. What many don’t realize is that we each have our own personal biome—and it plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy, thriving, and in balance.
Meet the Dermal Biome: The Key to Hair Health
The dermal biome is nature’s brilliant design for keeping our hair and scalp protected. It’s a natural ecosystem made up of the skin, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, arrector pili muscles (responsible for goosebumps), natural oils (lipids), and the beneficial microbes that live symbiotically with us.
Why Does It Matter for Hair Loss?
The health of your dermal biome is directly linked to the strength and vitality of your hair. When your biome is balanced, your scalp is hydrated, follicles are nourished, and hair remains strong, shiny, and resilient. But when it’s compromised, problems arise—dryness, irritation, inflammation, and even accelerated hair shedding or thinning. A damaged biome weakens follicles, making hair more fragile and prone to breakage or loss.
Think about it: your scalp and hair follicles are the first line of defense against environmental stressors. A well-functioning biome protects against moisture loss, regulates temperature, shields against mechanical damage, nurtures the scalp microbiome, and supports healthy hair growth cycles. Here’s how:
The Biome: Your Natural Defense Against Hair Thinning
- 1. The Moisture Barrier – Protecting Follicle Health
Your biome maintains a delicate moisture balance in the scalp and hair. Without this balance, follicles can become dehydrated, brittle, and less capable of supporting healthy hair growth.
- The outer layer of the skin contains keratin, which acts as a waterproofing barrier.
- Sebaceous glands produce sebum, a natural oil that fills the gaps between skin cells, keeping the scalp hydrated and preventing hair from becoming too dry or too oily.
- If this barrier is disrupted, follicles may dry out and shrink (miniaturization), leading to weaker hair strands and increased shedding.
Proper hydration is essential for cell renewal, follicle defense, and repair—all of which are critical in preventing hair loss.
- 2. The Scalp’s First Line of Defense – Preventing Inflammation & Hair Shedding
A healthy biome helps defend against bacteria and inflammation, which are often linked to hair thinning and conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, and dandruff.
- The scalp naturally produces antimicrobial peptides, which create a protective shield against harmful bacteria while supporting beneficial microbes.
- An imbalance in this system can lead to inflammation, clogged follicles, and excess shedding.
- This balance is so vital that the FDA has banned certain antibacterial chemicals (like triclosan) because they disrupt the scalp’s microbiome, worsening hair loss.
- 3. Temperature Regulation – Protecting Follicles from Stress
Your biome regulates body temperature to protect hair follicles from extreme conditions.
- Sweat glands help cool the scalp when it’s hot, preventing excessive oil buildup that could clog follicles.
- Arrector pili muscles (responsible for goosebumps) help trap a layer of warmth when it’s cold, protecting follicles from stress-induced hair shedding.
Fluctuations in temperature, combined with excess sweat, harsh shampoos, and pollution, can throw this system off balance, making hair more vulnerable to damage and loss.
- 4. Supporting the Hair Growth Cycle
A healthy biome supports the natural shedding and renewal of hair follicles, keeping them clear and free from buildup.
- Every day, dead skin cells and oils are shed, helping remove bacteria, pollution, and excess sebum that could clog follicles.
- If this process is disrupted, hair follicles become blocked, preventing new growth and leading to thinning or hair loss.
- Proper shedding also helps reduce oxidative stress, which is known to contribute to premature hair aging and loss.
How Conventional Products Disrupt Your Biome & Contribute to Hair Loss
While our biomes are remarkably resilient, modern lifestyles put them under constant stress.
- Harsh shampoos, chemical-laden conditioners, and styling products strip away natural oils, weakening the scalp’s barrier.
- Hair dyes and chemical treatments damage the scalp microbiome, making hair follicles more vulnerable.
- Environmental pollutants build up on the scalp, suffocating follicles and slowing growth.
Over time, these factors overwhelm the biome, making it harder for your scalp to maintain a healthy environment for hair growth.
The Solution: Work With Nature, Not Against It
The good news? You can support your biome and improve hair health by choosing biome-friendly products and practicing gentle, scalp-nourishing care.
By working with nature—not against it—you can restore balance, strengthen follicles, and promote thicker, healthier hair.
📞 Call us today at Nottingham 0115 897 6696 or London 0203 500 4604 or Schedule a Consultation Online to take the first step toward thicker, healthier hair!
