The skin flora are the microorganisms which reside on the skin surface. Most of them are bacteria. They are usually non-pathogenic, and can offer a protective role by preventing pathogenic organisms from colonizing on the skin surface, either by using up nutrients for themselves or by being hostile to them. The most common organisms are Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.
They can become pathogenic when one has an open wound, which usually happens for people who are immunocompromised.
