#IndustryInsights by Cleansery | 6 minutes read
We all have heard about oral probiotics at least at one point in our lives but has probiotic skincare ever come to your attention? Do not worry too much if it has not as it is still a relatively unexplored and growing branch of the dermatological world. At the same time, irrespective of its novelty, some probiotic cosmetics exceptionally beneficial properties have already managed to stun scientists from around the globe. In this article, we will present the latest research regarding the topic so that probiotic skincare will get a chance to stun you as well.
What actually are probiotics?
To cite the most recent valid definition, probiotics are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host”; host aka you. Simultaneously, the way of the mentioned administration can be preferably chosen - for instance, it may be oral or superficial right onto the skin.
Why would we want to apply microorganisms onto the skin?
Before we dive into the very reason why somebody even came up with such an idea, it is crucial to recall the fact that we are home to trillions of bacteria that can be way more than the number of cells in your body. The skin is inhabited by particular bacterial strains as well - we call it the skin’s microflora or microbiome. Among them, we can find permanent residents like Proprionibacteria (P. acnes, P. avidum, and P. granulosum), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (S. epidermidis), Micrococci, Corynebacteria, and Acinetobacter as well as transient species including S. aureus, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeroguinosa, and Bacillus. Studies show that S. epidermidis is the most dominant one among them all. Together, the mentioned bacteria largely contribute to the wellbeing of your skin - its moisture levels, resiliency, and overall strength.
Concurrently, the above list is the depiction of a regular or healthy skin microbiome. At any time it can be easily disrupted and destroyed, for example by pH imbalance, impaired lipid barrier, etc. Subsequently, if such a thing happens, it poses a direct threat to the skin’s wellbeing. Studies have shown that applying beneficial bacterial strains onto the skin actively strengthens and stimulates its natural microbiome - that is why we should use probiotic cosmetics.
All right, what kind of probiotic cosmetics should you look for?
Probiotic skincare products come in various forms and kinds and every year, even more, is expected. For starters, there exist probiotic cosmetics both for the face and the body. Look for serums, concentrates, masks, creams, and lotions with ingredients like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or Vitreoscilla - these are microbiome - friendly bacterial strains which only boost its health. For additional benefits, check if probiotics are accompanied by prebiotics in a product. While the former is actually health-giving bacteria, the latter are natural substances that stimulate their growth, including xylitol, rhamnose, and oligosaccharides.
What are the benefits of probiotic skincare?
Probiotics complement and strengthen the skin’s microbiome thus their benefits reflect the healthiest state of the skin provided by its innate resident bacteria. First off, the skin’s microbiome serves as the first-line defense mechanism against external irritants as well as a wide scope of pathogenic microorganisms including other bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites. If it inhabitants a sufficient area of the skin’s surface, it leaves no place for the mentioned pathogens that effectively prevents unwanted skin infections. This property turns out to be especially beneficial in skin conditions with an impaired skin barrier like acne, atopic dermatitis, or simply dry skin in which natural lipids are depleted.
Speaking of the skin’s lipid mantle, it has been proven that the skin’s microflora and skin’s lipid barrier propel each other to grow or be produced. Therefore, healthy skin microbiota is also responsible for a strong lipid mantle, providing protection as well as locking in moisture in the deeper skin layers. It helps the skin become more resilient on its own and maintain its proper hydration levels. In drier skin types, it results in decreasing the cumbersome feeling of tightness and discomfort. At the same time, since the lipid mantle is restored, any local inflammation manifesting itself as e.g. redness or erythema, is effectively mitigated. Another great information, especially for people with sensitive skin, is that healthy microflora helps the skin retain its appropriate pH level. Such a property significantly lowers the risk of an imbalance in the skin, averting irritation.
To sum up, the probiotic skincare has the following benefits:
- strengthens the skin protective barrier
- protects against infections and irritants
- contributes to a healthy skin lipid mantle
- reduces redness and inflammation
- helps the skin retain moisture, increasing its hydration levels
- alleviates discomfort and provides relief.
Are probiotic cosmetics good for people of all ages?
Looking at the abovementioned advantages, there is no doubt that people of all ages will benefit from a probiotic cosmetics routine. Resilience and hydration are two basic needs of every skin since the very first years of our lives. At the same time, combined with other listed benefits, they provide a proven anti-aging activity, making probiotic skincare valuable both in mature skin as well as in the younger ones that require prevention of the first signs of aging. Restoring balance and reducing inflammation drastically reduces the impact of oxidative stress on the skin, supporting its firmness and healthy architecture. Simultaneously, retaining moisture averts the formation of wrinkles or fine lines and decreases dullness.
In what skin conditions is probiotic skincare especially beneficial?
As mentioned earlier, probiotic skincare is especially beneficial in skin conditions with an impaired skin protective barrier. Until now, it has been actively implemented in the therapy of two very common skin diseases: atopic dermatitis and acne vulgaris. The results of the studies have been expectedly positive: in patients with atopic dermatitis, probiotics have increased the skin’s content of ceramides, diminished erythema, scaling, and pruritis as well as decreased the skin’s concentration of pathogenic bacteria.
At the same time, in acne patients, a visible reduction in lesion concentration, inflammation, erythema, and pathogenic bacteria load has been noted. Assuredly, the future will bring more medical applications of probiotic products.
Recommended skincare cosmetics with probiotics
The Probiotic Concentrate
Glamglow Probiotic Recovery Mask
What are your thoughts on cosmetics with probiotics?
We love to get reader's insights so we could all grow and share the knowledge in our industry. Make sure to share your comments under the LinkedIn post about probiotics which can be found here.
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