The human skin is an ecosystem in itself that contains a variety of microorganisms, known as the skin microbiome. These bacteria, fungi, and viruses are vital for skin health, working together to support the barrier function, modulate immune responses, and fight off infections (Byrd et al., 2018)The new consciousness of the skin microbiome’s place has brought about the design of skincare products to correct conditions that upset the beneficial ones. The article deals with the importance of the skin microbiome, its balancing factors, and the emergence of skincare treatments with microbiome targets for promoting skin health. 

Understanding the Skin Microbiome

The skin microbiome contains billions of microorganisms living in symbiosis with the human cells. These microbes contribute to skin homeostasis through the following: maintaining an acidic pH, establishing competition with harmful pathogens, and supporting the immune system (Belkaid & Segre, 2014). Thus, the microbiome assists in the prevention of conditions including acne, eczema, and rosacea when balanced. An imbalance or dysbiosis, however, may result in skin disorders, increased sensitivity, and hastened aging (Sanford & Gallo, 2013). 

Factors Influencing the Skin Microbiome

Several internal and external agents may set the skin microbiome off-balance, thus jeopardizing skin health. Some of them are: 

  • Excessive Antibacterial Skincare Use: Strong cleansers and antibacterial soaps can be harsh to the microflora of the skin. This may lead to pathogenic infections (Dréno et al., 2016). 
  • Pollution: The exposure to pollutants can change microbial diversity, and thus negatively affect the skin barrier function (Egert et al., 2017).  
  • Diet and Lifestyle Trends: Diets that are high in sugar and stress lead to inflammation that can alter the composition of the skin microbiome (Leung et al., 2016).  
  • Antibiotic Use: Repeated antibiotic therapies, whether ointment or oral, can wipe out both bad and good bacteria that could eventually lead to long-lasting imbalances in the skin (De Pessemier et al., 2021). 

The Rise of Microbiome-Focused Skincare

Recognizing the microbiome’s critical role in skin health, the skincare industry is evolving and creating formulations that are friendly to the microbiome. The products aim to feed and restore microbial diversity along three main strategies: 

1. Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics 

The Microbiome is usually inclusive of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics supplementations in skincare. They endorse a favorable living environment for beneficial microbes:  

  • Prebiotics: Refers to non-digestible constituents that have nourishing effect on friendly skin microflora (Ouwehand et al., 2002).  
  • Probiotics: Live micro-organisms that may confer health benefits to the host when taken in adequate amounts (Knackstedt et al., 2020).  
  • Postbiotics: Fermented product resulting when probiotics improve the efficiency of skin barrier action and lower inflammation (Gueniche et al., 2014). 

2. Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) Sprays 

The hypochlorous acid is getting known as an antimicrobial agent that decreases inflammation without disregarding the beneficial bacteria of the host. Though it was originally used for the treatment of wounds, HOCl is today increasingly serving as one of the most common molecules in dermatological compositions for acne, rosacea, and also eczema (Bongiovanni et al., 2021). 

3. Microbiome-Supportive Moisturizers 

Several brands have created moisturizers that protect and benefit the skin microbiome. The ingredients of these products include niacinamide, succinic acid, and asiaticoside, all of which go to enhance microbial diversity through hydration and anti-inflammation (Kober & Bowe, 2021). 

Benefits of Microbiome-Focused Skincare

Skin care products that focus on the microbiome have a wide array of benefits. 

  • Enhanced Skin Barrier Function: A healthy microbiome will strengthen the skin barrier against water loss and environmental damage (Salem et al., 2018). 
  • Reduced Inflammation and Sensitivity: Probiotic and postbiotic treatments can help alleviate immune-modulated conditions like rosacea, acne, or eczema (Knackstedt et al., 2020). 
  • Improved Hydration and Anti-Aging Effects: Some microbiome-compatible ingredients will boost collagen production and help with skin elasticity, thereby minimizing fine lines and wrinkles (Gueniche et al., 2014). 

Considerations and Future Directions 

While promising, the field of microbiome-based skincare still demands an informed decision regarding the use of said products. Not all skincare products with the word “probiotic” on them contain live bacteria; in fact, most rely on prebiotics and postbiotics. Further research on developing targeted therapies for individual microbiome variations is warranted. With the advent of microbiome sequencing and artificial intelligence, it may not lay far ahead in time when personalized skincare solutions targeting an individual’s microbial profile will become commonplace (De Pessemier et al., 2021). 

Health in skin and the skin microbiome are effectively studied. So microbiome-focused skincare is said to be a game-changer in dermatology. Such formulations are designed to restore the balance of the skin by using prebiotics, probiotics, and microbiome-friendly products. With more scientific studies, microbiome-based skincare can revolutionize the beauty industry with solutions for individualized skin that is healthier and more radiant. 

References

  1. Belkaid, Y., & Segre, J. A. (2014). Dialogue between skin microbiota and immunity. Science, 346(6212), 954-959. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260144 
  2. Bongiovanni, C., Kyrou, I., Prezioso, C., & Mastroianni, C. M. (2021). Hypochlorous acid as a potential wound care agent. Future Microbiology, 16(6), 439-448. https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb-2020-0315 
  3. Byrd, A. L., Belkaid, Y., & Segre, J. A. (2018). The human skin microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 16(3), 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2017.157 
  4. De Pessemier, B., Grine, L., Debaets, B., Wang, T., & Neyrinck, A. M. (2021). Gut–skin axis: Current knowledge of the interrelationship between microbial dysbiosis and skin conditions. Microorganisms, 9(2), 353. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020353 
  5. Dréno, B., Araviiskaia, E., Berardesca, E., Gontijo, G., Sanchez Viera, M., & Xiang, L. F. (2016). Microbiome in healthy skin, update for dermatologists. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 30(12), 2038-2047. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.13965 
  6. Egert, M., Simmering, R., Riedel, C. U., & Kleesen, B. (2017). The impact of the environment on skin microbiota. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 123(3), 604-612. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13500 
  7. Gueniche, A., Bastien, P., Ovigne, J. M., Kermici, M., Courchay, G., & Chevalier, V. (2014). Bifidobacterium longum lysate, a postbiotic, improves skin health. Experimental Dermatology, 23(11), 735-738. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.12544 

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