How does interacting with animals impact our skin microbiome?

The connection between animals and skin health emerged from research showing that children raised on farms are less likely to develop allergies and asthma than their urban counterparts (Frei et al., 2022). For eczema specifically, one farm study found that children whose mothers had contact with three or more species of farm animals during pregnancy had less than half the risk of eczema in their first two years (Roduit et al., 2011), and children raised on farms also have a lower risk of severe respiratory illness (Ludka-Gaulke et al., 2018). Building on these observations, further research found that farm environments increased immune tolerance and reduced inflammatory responses (Frei et al., 2022).

This “farm effect” likely results from daily contact with diverse microbes found in animal settings. These microbes not only shape the skin microbiome but also train the immune system to maintain balance, reducing the risk of allergies and skin conditions.

So, how exactly do animals reshape our skin microbiome? Research shows that farm environments don’t just introduce microbes but actively change the composition and diversity of our skin’s microbial communities. For example, occupational exposure to swine farms has been shown to significantly alter the skin and nasal microbiota of workers (Wang et al., 2023), suggesting that close contact with animals has a direct impact on the microbial landscape.

Thankfully, the benefits of increased skin microbiome diversity aren’t limited to farm life. Studies show that growing up with pets (particularly dogs and cats) can have a profound impact on the immune system and skin health (Hesselmar et al., 2018). A landmark study found that children exposed to two or more dogs or cats in their first year of life had significantly lower rates of allergic sensitization by age 6 or 7, suggesting that early pet exposure promotes immune tolerance through microbial diversity (Ownby et al., 2002).

Whether through cuddling your cat or tossing a ball to your dog, these interactions could play a key role in enriching your skin microbiome.

If your childhood home wasn’t filled with animals, don’t worry: pets during adulthood still offer powerful ways to enrich your skin microbiome. Studies show that living with pets, particularly dogs, can significantly impact the skin’s microbial ecosystem. Among the body’s microbiomes, the skin microbiome is the most affected by pet ownership, reflecting the direct contact and shared environments between humans and their furry companions (Song et al., 2013).

Several studies suggest that pet ownership shapes the microbes we live with. One study found that people in pet-owning homes had microbiota less similar to each other than people in homes without pets, suggesting that pets introduce microbes to their owners (Misic et al., 2015). Another found that homes with dogs harbored more diverse bacterial communities (Dunn et al., 2013). Together, these findings highlight the impact pets can have on enriching our microbial world.

If pets aren’t an option due to allergies, living with a partner can still enhance your skin microbiome diversity. Research has shown that cohabitation with another person leads to shared microbial communities, with the skin microbiome being the most influenced among all body microbiomes (Song et al., 2013).

One study specifically examined cohabiting couples and found that even without pets, partners share microbiota across their bodies (Ross et al., 2017). This illustrates how shared environments and close interactions can shape and enrich the skin’s microbial landscape, with skin itself one of the main sources of the microbes in our homes (Adams et al., 2015). For those allergic to animals, this underscores the power of human relationships in fostering microbial diversity.

There’s something undeniably fascinating about the connection between animal contact and reduced skin issues. It’s a link we’re only beginning to uncover, and the evidence suggests the key lies in how these interactions enrich our skin microbiome’s diversity. This microbial boost is thought to play an essential role in supporting healthier, more resilient skin. Yet, as exciting as these findings are, we still have much to learn, particularly about how animal contact might help improve adult skin problems and overall skin health.

At fjör, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on the evolving evidence, but for now, we wholeheartedly recommend animal contact as a potential way to address the low skin microbiome diversity that is increasingly common in urban environments. It’s a small, simple act that might just bring you closer to healthier, happier skin.