Forever Chemicals and Microplastics in Dermatology, with Michelle Hure, MD

In the field of dermatology, the connection between the gut microbiome and skin health, as well as concerns over forever chemicals and microplastics, are topics of interest for many clinicians and patients.

Both of these topics were highlighted in a recent interview with Michelle Hure, MD, a dermatologist and dermatopathologist, as well as the President and CEO of OC SkinLab. Hure presented on these topics during a session at the Dermatology Education Foundation (DERM) 2025 NP/PA CME Conference, and was asked about some of the clinical pearls highlighted in the talk.

“It's really important to understand how we need to have that symbiotic relationship and prevent the dysbiosis, which is basically throwing off that balance with some of the things that we actually do to our patients and that iatrogenic sort of thing that we do to the patients with either products that we're putting on their skin or the medications that we're giving them,” Hure said. “Understanding that you really want to make sure that you're not stripping your skin, that you're not kind of overdoing it with skincare. Less is more.”

Hure highlighted that clinicians should help patients to understand what the skin barrier is and that the dead skin particles on one’s skin are part of the bacteria and microbiota that are present on the skin. Harsh skincare routines, Hure noted, are causing patients more harm than good in this area.

Hure cautioned against the overuse of antibiotics and harsh skincare routines that disrupt the skin's microbiota and barrier. Later, she was asked about her session highlighting forever chemicals and microplastics. Hure highlighted the issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in skincare products, noting a recent study showing dermal uptake and potential links to skin conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

“We see this in our patients who have higher exposure,” Hure explained. “So maybe they're firefighters or someone who has more of an environmental exposure. But also, every day, patients may be using products that have a lot of these in them. So if they're doing the waterproof and the smudge-proof [products] and all of these ‘glass skin’ sorts of things, more than likely you're going to have something like that in one of the ingredients in there. It may not be listed. So we just want to be mindful. I don't want to fear-monger, because I do think that that doesn't help anyone. But I think just being more mindful of what we're using, and trying to pick things that maybe have a little bit of a lower risk, especially if you're having an issue with them.”

Hure suggested being mindful of product ingredients and has observed improvements in patients' skin conditions after switching to PFA-free products. She stressed the need for a balanced approach to skincare to preserve the skin's natural defenses.

For any additional information on the topics covered by Hure during her session, view the full interview segment posted above.

The quotes contained in this summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.