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Which harmless bacteria normally live on healthy human skin?
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skin disease
Visible alterations in the texture of the skin, such as rashes and hives, can be indicative of serious disease. For example, one of the first signs of Lyme disease is a circular rash in a bull's-eye pattern on the skin.
Healthy human skin harbors a resident, harmless bacterial population that includes Micrococcaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, and aerobic diphtheroids.1
These commensal organisms are beneficial to the host, as they help break down dying skin cells and destroy debris secreted by the skin's glands and pores. While these bacteria are typically harmless, it is important to note that healthy individuals can also act as carriers for pathogenic strains of staphylococci, which may pose health risks to others with compromised immune systems.21