Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

11 overlooked factors that affect the bacteria on your body and help determine your health

Lydia RamseyNov 17, 2015, 04:23 IST

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Here's something that might make your skin crawl: Your skin is covered with trillions of itty bitty microbes.

But these microbes aren't all bad. In fact, most of them do more good than harm.

To learn more about what affects the bacteria in your body, otherwise known as your microbiome, Business Insider ventured to a recent exhibit on the microbiome at the American Museum of Natural History.

Here are 11 factors that influence the bacteria living in and on you: