Biome improvement
Microbiome-protecting products are becoming big news in beauty. Katie Wright finds out More
YOU might have heard health experts and chefs extolling the virtues of things like kombucha, kimchi and kefir recently, explaining how these fermented foods and drinks can benefit our gut microbiome.
Maybe you’ve even started incorporating them in your diet to feed the friendly bacteria that dwell in our intestines.
But did you know your skin is also home to a microbiome – and looking after it can help maintain a healthy complexion?
In fact, skincare formulated with skin-friendly prebiotic and probiotic ingredients is one of this year’s biggest beauty trends.
So, should you be adding these products to your daily routine? We asked some experts...
What is the skin microbiome? “The skin microbiome is a whole community of organisms, including thousands of species of bacteria, that live on the skin and help to keep us healthy, both inside and outside our body,” explains dermatologist consultant Dr Zac Handler.
Made up of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria, a healthy microbiome is balanced, but problems can arise when the bad bacteria take over. Abigail Williams, national education manager at Caudalie, says: “When this balance is disturbed, the barrier function can be damaged and skin’s immune system weakened. Skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, acne and irritated skin, which are linked to unbalanced microbiome, can occur.”
What can cause an unbalanced microbiome? “Over-cleansing the skin can strip it of its natural microbiome barrier, removing both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ bacteria; this can leave it vulnerable to pollutants, infection, and dryness,” says Dr Handler.
Inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoria- sis can be associated with an unbalanced skin microbiome – but when it comes to skin issues, there may be other factors at play too (and anyone with chronic skin conditions should seek professional advice about the best ways to manage symptoms).
How can you rebalance your microbiome?
As with gut health, alongside a healthy and varied diet, good quality prebiotics and probiotics can help to boost and support the microbiome – and they’re found in the next generation of skincare.
What’s the difference between prebiotics and probiotics ?
“In a nutshell, a prebiotic substance is the skin’s good bacteria food ,” says Abigail .“They are sugars such as insulin, fruc too li go sac cha rides and gal ac too li go sac char ideswhic hare mainly plant-based.” Probiotics are “actual good bacteria that work to create a better skin environment,” Dr Handler explains.
are there any risks with prebiotic or probiotic skincare products?
“Our skin and its microbiome can be influenced by skincare products, and everyone’s skin is unique. Finding the right product, which ensures adequate skin hydration and optimum conditions for our good bacteria to thrive is important,” says Dr Wisam Alwan, British Skin Foundation clinical research fellow. Most probiotic skincare products contain inactivated bacteria, and research is ongoing to discover “which live bacteria are the most beneficial, without a risk of causing infections”. Prebiotic skincare is, Dr Alwan adds, “less likely to cause any issues, although anyone with sensitive skin should use new products with caution and perform a ‘test patch’ on a small area of skin before using widely.”