Our skins play host to a huge variety of microbes, but (previous) studies focused on bacteria. To expand that, researchers took skin scrapings from 10 healthy adult volunteers. They collected these samples from 14 different sites on the body, including the (scalp), around the ears and nose, along the limbs, and three sites on the feet.

In most of these locations, a single genus of fungi called Malassezia dominated. But several different genera thrived on the feet. Perhaps (because) feet come into direct contact with the environment often, spend part of their time inside warm, moist shoes and don’t get washed nearly as much as hands.

Fungal diversity did not correspond with bacterial diversity. Clearly, different microbes prefer different types of skin. Understanding these (preferences) could help treat skin diseases, leaving our hides footloose and infection-free