Importance of Skin Microbiome and its relation in Skin aging 

Are we aware that the trillions of bacteria living on the skin play a very vital role in our overall well-being?

The skin represents the largest organ among others in the human system and is home to an enormous variety of living microbes, most of which are deemed not harmful and potentially beneficial to their host. Skin comprises an ecosystem made up of 1.82 m² of varying habitats with a plethora of folds, a few invaginations, and niches that sustain a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. s primary role is to serve as a physical barrier, protecting our body from foreign organisms or toxic substances.

What is the skin microbiome?

The skin microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms that live on the surface of our skin, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and also mites. Recent research has shown that the skin microbiome plays an essential role in maintaining healthy skin and protecting against a range of skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

One area of growing interest is the relationship between the skin microbiome and skin aging. Studies have shown that changes in the skin microbiome composition can be associated with the aging process, and that maintaining a healthy skin microbiome may be key to delaying or preventing skin aging.

Why is the skin microbiome important?

The skin microbiome is important for several reasons:

1. Protection: The skin is the body’s first line of defence against external threats such as bacteria, viruses, and pollutants. The skin microbiome helps to protect against these threats by creating a barrier that prevents harmful organisms from colonizing the skin.
2. Skin health: The skin microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining skin health. It helps to keep the skin moisturized, prevent dryness and flakiness, and promote wound healing.
3. Immune system: The skin microbiome interacts with the immune system to help it recognize and respond to potential threats. The immune cells in the skin are trained to distinguish between harmful and harmless microorganisms, and the microbiome helps teach the immune system which microorganisms are friendly.
4. Dermatological conditions: The skin microbiome has been shown to play a role in a range of dermatological conditions, including acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. Studies have shown that changes in the skin microbiome composition can be associated with the development or exacerbation of these conditions.

Overall, the skin microbiome is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that plays an important role in maintaining skin health and protecting against external threats. Understanding the functions of the skin microbiome may lead to new strategies for preventing and treating skin conditions.

How does microbiome affect skin aging?

An alteration of the intestinal bacteria results in “microbial dysbiosis” which is associated with the influence of various diseases, including skin aging. The skin interactome is a unique “genome-microbiome-exposome” integration that plays a significant role in the ageing of the skin and skin health.

Skin aging is the process of turning from a younger to an older, often less healthy organism. While the age considered ‘old’ or ‘aged’ is usually socially determined to be around 60-70 years old, the aging process itself occurs throughout life. Biological aging is a process that occurs at a very cellular and molecular level, leading to a deterioration in the function and structure of all of the organ systems. Genetic factors play a vital role in the aging process. Genetics also help to determine the lifespan of species and partly explain why some individuals from some lineages tend to live longer and healthier lives than others.

It is true that aging is unavoidable, universal, and irreversible in our present scientific understanding. Aging may be accelerated or delayed through the modification of extrinsic factors such as dietary patterns, resting, exposure to environmental factors, physical activities, and diseases.

Gut-Skin Axis

The gut-skin axis refers to the two-way communication channel between the integumentary system and the gut microbiome via its immunological and metabolic features.  Bacterial microbiomes and metabolites from them can move through the bloodstream in the body and impact the skin and distant tissue organs.

Gut-skin axis in the state of homeostatis:  

The environment of the gut offers nutrients and optimum conditions for growth for gut microbiota, whereas gut microbiota perform pleiotropic tasks in regulating the state of body homeostasis.  Microbial metabolites such as fatty acids with short chains, secondary bile acids, and several small molecules not only maintain enterocyte actions locally but additionally exert systemic effects such as immunological tolerance.  Linkage of this effect to the skin through the circulation of blood, producing the so-called ‘gut-skin axis,’ and an anti-inflammatory milieu is created in the skin, optimising interactions with the skin microbiota.

The skin microbiome and disease

Many skin-related issues are thought to have an underlying microbial involvement since clinical improvement is observed using antimicrobial treatments.  A few of the disorders associated with microbiota are:Seborrheic dermatitis, Atopic dermatitis, chronic wounds, burn wounds, and aged skin. The aging skin is mostly associated with dark spots, dryness, and dullness.

Use of fish oils, aloe vera, probiotics, tea tree oil, olive oil, pomegranate extracts, and phytoceramides are a few of the treatment options.

BLM Bloom is a rational combination of nutraceutical ingredients for the management of skin aging as manifested by dark spots, dryness, and dullness.

References:

1. Grice EA, Segre JA. The skin microbiome. Nature reviews microbiology. 2011 Apr;9(4):244-53.
2. https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/skin-microbiome
3. Ratanapokasatit Y, Laisuan W, Rattananukrom T, Petchlorlian A, Thaipisuttikul I, Sompornrattanaphan M. How microbiomes affect skin aging: The updated evidence and current perspectives. Life. 2022 Jun 22;12(7):936.
4. Szántó M., Dózsa A., Antal D., Szabó K., Kemény L., Bai P. Targeting the gut-skin axis—Probiotics as new tools for skin disorder management? Dermatol. 2019;28:1210–1218. doi: 10.1111/exd.14016.
5. https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders/seborrheic-dermatitis-natural-treatment#When-to-see-your-doctor

Zhang S, Duan E. Fighting against skin aging: the way from bench to bedside. Cell transplantation. 2018 May;27(5):729-38.