42 TESTING
invasion of foreign and potentially harmful microbes. Other articles examine the communication of the microbiome with the human immune system. Many studies have proven that there is a close link between skin diseases such as acne and atopic dermatitis and the skin microbiome. Recent research indicates that no presence of a single clearly defined microbial species will turn out beneficial or harmful, but that it is the diversity of the microbiome that is essential for maintaining skin health.8 From these insights, we can conclude that
by strengthening and balancing the microbial diversity on the skin, skin condition and health can be improved. On the other hand, it seems clear that the use of antibiotics and strong disinfectants and cleaners may lead to a disruption of the microbial associations and impair skin health.
Even though the most common
organisms colonising the skin are identified, the microbiome is dynamic over time and diverse within and between individuals.9 You will not find two individuals with exactly the same microbiome composition, still their skin in both cases may be quite healthy. This diversity is attributed to genetic and demographic properties, age, gender, ethnicity, skin type, lifestyle, hygiene, underlying conditions such as diabetes, immune system, intake of medication, geographic differences, environmental stress by temperature, humidity, seasonal variation, radiation exposure and pollution, cohabitation with animals, profession, BMI and many more. Even short-term contact of the skin with different materials, for example during the preparation of meals or exercising a job, or by touching different surfaces like the handles of doors or support straps in the tram, will result in the transfer of transient and potentially harmful microorganisms. If these microbes manage to settle and infect the skin, depends mainly on the resistance of the resident microorganisms and the integrity of the skin surface. Also, differences in skin condition across
Figure 2: Culture of sampled microorganisms is the basis for most traditional microbiological tests.
the body are the reason of there being completely different microbial associations at different skin sites.10
The face offers home
to microbes that enjoy or at least tolerate high skin surface moisture and higher sebum production. On the other hand, the extremities are rather dry and offer no such optimal conditions for most bacteria. Then, there are also the moist areas in the arm pits and at body folds that offer a completely different environment to microorganisms. The dry versus the moist areas “are likely as ecologically dissimilar as rain forests are to deserts”.11
It has also
become clear that the skin pH-value is of huge impact for the ability of different microbes to survive or even flourish. Bacteria regarded as harmful seem to be especially affected by acidic conditions whereas the healthy microbiome is stable in more acidic environments.12, 13, 14 Trials have been undertaken to analyse
the microbial colonisation in various diseases such as acne and atopic dermatitis. Identifying the predominant species related to this disease, such as
Proving cosmetic claims of microbiome products
Bacterial analysis can be very useful to measure the effect of antibacterial washes, presumably showing a reduction of the bacteria on the skin. Also, the amount of specific bacteria species present is interesting for studying the effect of anti- acne or antibiotic products. It remains in any case difficult to compare the full scope of microbial compositions of different individuals. Therefore, many cleansing
staphylococcus aureus to atopic dermatitis might assist in curing the skin by changing the skin conditions, so that this special species is at a disadvantage. Several ideas have been proposed regarding probiotic and prebiotic treatments and have been controversially discussed.15 Despite the extensive research on skin
microbiome, there is no scientific consensus or even an indication about the composition of the perfectly healthy microbiome. This is mainly due to the described inter-individual variations.
Figure 3: Tewameter measurement with open measurement chamber does not influence the natural evaporation from the skin.
PERSONAL CARE EUROPE
Figure 4: The Corneometer allows quick and easy hydration measurement at different skin sites.
Figure 5: Sebum measurement with the Sebumeter takes approximately 30 seconds.
April 2019
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