Research Suggests Sunbathing , Could Impact Your Microbiome.br 'Newsweek' reports that research shows that in addition to increasing cancer risks and accelerating aging, br exposure to the sun can also disrupt the skin's microbiome.br Researchers from the University of Manchester found that br a week-long vacation's worth of sun could significantly br impact the skin's delicate balance of microbes.br Skin is colonized by a diverse microbiota br that play essential roles in the maintenance br of skin homeostasis [balance], protecting br skin against invading pathogens and br coordinating the innate and adaptive br arms of the cutaneous immune system, Abigail Langton, Lead author of the study, via 'Newsweek'.br The study, which was published in the journal br 'Frontiers in Aging,' looked at the skin microbiomes of br 21 volunteers before and after they went to the beach.br 'Newsweek' reports that volunteers were split into three br groups: those who were already tan, those who tanned while on vacation and those who avoided the sun. .br The group that tanned while on vacation br were found to have lower levels of "good" br skin bacteria, specifically Proteobacteria. .br [Proteobacteria are] particularly interesting because a disturbed Proteobacteria microbiota has been previously associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and diabetic foot ulcers, Abigail Langton, Lead author of the study, via 'Newsweek'.br [Proteobacteria are] particularly interesting because a disturbed Proteobacteria microbiota has been previously associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and diabetic foot ulcers, Abigail Langton, Lead author of the study, via 'Newsweek'.br According to the team, it remains unclear br why Proteobacteria are particularly br sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.