Touching Soil May Boost Immunity: Research Reveals What Happens to Skin Microbes in the Embrace of Nature

Direct contact with nature may be more than just a means of relaxation. According to BBC Arabic, Finnish research suggests that touching soil, moss, and plants can temporarily increase the diversity of microbes on the skin, a diversity that is in turn linked to important immune functions.

A study involving researcher Mira Gronroos showed that contact with microbe-rich natural materials immediately raised skin bacteria diversity, with some effects persisting even after washing hands with water. However, researchers emphasized that the effect is short-term and that understanding its long-term health benefits requires further studies.

In another experiment published in the journal Science Advances, playgrounds at Finnish daycares were modified by adding forest soil and plants, and children were monitored for 28 days.

Researchers recorded changes in skin microbiome diversity alongside indicators related to immune system regulation, including an increase in the proportion of certain regulatory T cells.

However, researchers stress that these results do not mean that playing in the dirt definitively prevents asthma, allergies, or eczema, but rather support the hypothesis that regular exposure to natural diversity may help train the immune system.