Rebalancing microbiota ratios fights blemishes and dandruff

So, rebalancing the skin microbiota equilibrium is an important concern for skin health. Here we focus on acne and dandruff, two common skin disorders which have been associated to dysbiosis, and we present two active ingredients dedicated to rebalancing proportions between specific microbial populations and their positive effects on these two conditions.

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is the major interface with the outside environment. It also hosts, on its surface and in the superficial layers of the epidermis, a huge diversity of microorganisms that constitute a complex ecosystem. It is estimated that the skin of an adult hosts on average 1000 billion bacteria and 1000 species of fungi, viruses and arthropods that make up the cutaneous microbiota. 

This incredible diversity is also found at inter and intra-personal levels. Indeed, the composition of the cutaneous microbiota is the result of a balance between local conditions and the metabolic properties of these microorganisms. Thus, the skin microbiota varies quantitatively and qualitatively from one individual to another, but also according to age, body site, sex, immune system and certain physicochemical factors such as humidity, pH and temperature. In short, each skin environment offers a specific “culture medium” that promotes the growth of given microorganisms.1 For example, changes in the relative abundance of bacterial taxa are observed between moist, dry and sebaceous microenvironments. Sebaceous environments are generally dominated by lipophilic Propionibacterium species while moist environments are dominated by species such as Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium.2