Skincare should be modelled on the bacteria’s natural mode of action

Hennigsdorf b. Berlin, 11 January 2022 – Many conven­tional creams and skincare products damage the skin micro­biome, and this may in turn also harm the skin’s health. This emerged as a result of laboratory studies under­taken by BELANO medical AG in Hennigsdorf near Berlin. In addition, negative reper­cus­sions for a user’s general wellbeing and health are also possible.

The biotech­nology company examined the micro­bio­lo­gical behavior of more than 30 samples of creams and skincare products and found that many products hinder the growth of, or even kill off, healthy bacteria on the skin, e.g. Staphy­lo­coccus epider­midis. “These good bacteria, however, are tremen­dously important for our skin”, empha­sizes Dr Christine Lang, professor of micro­biology at Technical University Berlin and CSO at BELANO medical. “In these cases, skin creams can imbalance the micro­biome, and in turn the healthy skin flora.”

Skincare should not be antibacterial

Derma­to­lo­gists agree that the micro­biome – i.e. the diverse community of bacteria, fungi, and other micro­or­ga­nisms on the skin – is crucial for a healthy skin. “Hence, there is an effort underway to make sure that, going forward, we focus far more on safeguarding that skincare or cosmetics protect and nurture the micro­biome, i.e. bacterial diversity on the skin.”

During the Corona pandemic, but also in the preceding years and decades, worries about infection repeatedly drove demand for products which promise to clean and nourish the skin while simul­ta­ne­ously having a disin­fecting or even antibac­terial effect. “This approach, however, is wrong and will do more harm than good”, empha­sizes Prof. Lang. In the long run, this effect and the resulting impairment of the micro­biome could even favor allergies or skin diseases such as atopic derma­titis or aggravate symptoms.

“Most micro­or­ga­nisms on our skin are harmless”, Prof. Lang continues. “Their diversity is essential to a healthy skin flora, and hence for a healthy skin.” Good (commensal) bacteria formed a protective barrier against disease-causing (pathogen) bacteria. They could promote a more rapid healing of injured skin, and hinder the growth of tumor cells (white skin cancer) in the skin. At specialist trade fairs and confe­rences held in the last months, Prof. Lang has already called for cosmetics and skincare products to be more closely modelled on the microbiome’s natural mechanism of action with regard to their compo­sition and mode of operation.

The best lotions made of bacteria

In recent years, many derma­to­lo­gical studies had already shown that in the case of illness or disease, patients often exhibit reduced bacterial diversity. “We see this with both skin and gastro­in­tes­tinal diseases or digestive issues”, says Prof. Lang. As a rule, the respective micro­biome – on the skin, on mucous membranes, or in the gut – was in these cases found to be impaired. Some studies had already demons­trated that condi­tions were improved and symptoms reduced if patients took specific probiotics or (in the case gastro­in­tes­tinal diseases) micro­biotics, or applied micro­biotic medical skincare. An interview with Professor Dr. Christine Lang concerning the skin bacteria’s mode of action and their role in skin health was published several years ago, it is available online at https://www.welt.de/print/welt_kompakt/print_lifestyle/article157962643/Die-besten- Cremes-entstehen-aus-Bakterien.html. In addition, Prof. Lang has in several lectures provided details on the laboratory testing of the skin creams and subse­quent results, among others at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfcmasDbYRg&t=1s.