Your skin is covered in trillions of microscopic bacteria - and that's actually a good thing.

Take a look at your skin. What do you see? Perhaps it's a few stray pimples, dry patches on the cheeks, or fine lines around the eyes. You might think that these fears have nothing to do with each other, but the truth is, they are. According to board certified dermatologist and La Roche-Posay ambassador Dr. Whitney Bowie, the common thread connecting these issues is inflammation.

What if we told you that finding a solution to inflammation didn't have to cost you a dime? What if we said that with small changes in your daily habits - think: in your diet and in your skin care - you could see incredible, long-term improvements in the appearance of your skin? Ultimately, it all comes down to taking care of your skin microbiome, the trillions of microscopic bacteria that coat your skin and digestive tract. “If you learn to really protect and support your good microbes and your skin microbiome, you will see long-term solutions in the skin,” says Dr. Bowie. This message, along with many others, is the central theme of Dr. Bowie's recently released book.

What is a microbiome?

At any given moment, our bodies are covered with trillions of microscopic bacteria. “They crawl across our skin, dive between our eyelashes, dive into our belly buttons and also in our guts,” explains Dr. Bowe. "When you step on the scale in the morning, about five pounds of your weight is actually attributed to these little microscopic warriors, if you will." Sounds intimidating, but fear not - these bacteria are not actually dangerous to us. In fact, just the opposite is true. “The microbiome refers to these friendly microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that actually keep us healthy and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with our bodies,” says Dr. Bowie. To take care of your skin, it is important to take care of these insects and your skin microbiome.

How can you take care of your skin microbiome?

There are several ways to take care of the skin microbiome. We asked Dr. Bow to share a few of her top tips below.

1. Pay attention to your diet: As part of skin care from the inside out and the outside in, you need to eat the right products. “You want to avoid foods that are high in refined carbohydrates and high in sugar,” says Dr. Bowie. "Processed, packaged foods are usually not very skin-friendly." It's recommended to replace foods like white bagels, pasta, chips and pretzels with foods like oatmeal, quinoa and fresh fruits and vegetables, according to Dr. Bow. She also recommends yogurt containing live active cultures and probiotics.

2. Do not over-cleanse your skin: Dr. Bowie admits that the number one skin care mistake she sees among her patients is over-cleansing. “They scrub and wash their good insects and use really aggressive products,” she says. "Any time your skin feels very tight, dry and squeaky after cleansing, it probably means you're killing some of your good bugs."

3. Use the right skin care products: Dr. Bow likes to recommend La Roche-Posay products, which have been researching the microbiome and its powerful effects on the skin for years. “La Roche-Posay has a special water called Thermal Spring Water, and it has a high concentration of prebiotics,” says Dr. Bowie. “These prebiotics actually feed your bacteria on your skin, so they create a healthy and diverse microbiome on your skin. If you have dry skin, I recommend La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+. It's a great product and takes a very thoughtful look at the microbiome."

To learn more about the microbiome, the connection between your gut health and your skin, the best foods to eat for glowing skin, and other great tips, be sure to pick up a copy of Dr. Bowe's The Beauty of Dirty Skin.