The epidermis, a vital organ in the human body, plays an extremely important role in maintaining health by providing mechanical and chemical protection against invading agents. In this vast habitat we find a diverse array of bacteria and fungi that interact with one another, forming a microbiome full of chemical signals that interact with the host's immune system.

Local pathologies, including folliculitis, dermatitis, bullous impetigo, and systemic pathologies, including cutaneous lupus erythematosus, vasculopathies, and general endocrine disorders, can influence this microbiome by considering the synthesis of hormones, lipids, and peptides that regulate the skin microenvironment. Recent findings even link intestinal health as a regulatory factor for skin health.

Amid the pressing global crisis of antimicrobial resistance, the skin plays a key role as a potential vector of microbial species. Antimicrobial resistance ranks among the top ten global public health threats, responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and a contributing factor in 4.95 million deaths. Therefore, studies that evaluate the skin microbiome, its interaction with the host's immune cells, and new therapeutic options for the treatment, care, and asepsis of this vital organ are essential.

In this Research Topic, we hope to collect the latest relevant research to advance our understanding of the skin's microbiome and its critical role in human health, particularly in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance.

We welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews and Mini Reviews focusing on, but not limited to, the following key research areas:
• the skin microbiome, with the different bacterial and fungal compositions depending on health-disease conditions
• the interaction of host with skin pathogens, with a focus on immunological aspects
• new therapies under development aimed at epithelial care and control of pathogenic microbial species that affect the skin tissue
• studies that evaluate the cutaneous microbiota
• discrimination of the proportion of bacterial/fungal species in the context of pathology
• Studies that evaluate the bacterial/fungal/host interaction in the context of the immune system
• developing therapeutic options for antimicrobial control/skin asepsis
• limitations of existing tests (diagnostic or investigational) in analysis of skin microbiome

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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

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