Back to Basics: Lactobacillus

2021-06-14 • 0 Comment

Our skin is colonized by a diverse collection of microorganisms, the so-called skin microbiome. Many of these microorganisms are harmless and some even provide vital functions to human skin (eg Staphylococcus epidermis). They protect against the invasion of pathogenic organisms or strengthen our immune system. Therefore, both the host and the microbiome form a complex ecosystem with delicately balanced interactions that are important for skin health.

Disruptions in the balance on both sides of the equation can lead to skin disorders or infections. For example, the overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes contributes to acne vulgaris.

Traditional cosmetic approaches to target the skin microbiome are antimicrobial and biocide treatments that kill individual bacteria. However, bacteria can defend themselves by hiding inside biofilms. Biofilms are large complex communities of bacteria and fungi encapsulated in a thick protective matrix. Within biofilms, microbes become resistant to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, skin biofilms are now recognized as the main virulence factor in many inflammatory skin conditions.

This fact challenges the cosmetic industry to identify selective biofilm balancers, which specifically weaken biofilms of problematic bacteria, and support advantageous microbe biofilms.

Lactobacillus are a type of healthy bacteria that live in our body without causing any kind of disease.

In cosmetic products, Lactobacillus species, along with other lactic acid bacteria (LAB), are found at low levels on the skin creating a local acidic environment and influence the microbiome by producing biofilms and providing nutrients. By releasing bacteriocin (proteins with antimicrobial properties) they help prevent pathogenic bacteria from becoming established.

In the past, products containing Lactobacillus were used on the body and face to moisturize and illuminate the skin. Currently these Lactobacillus bacteria are being used in formulations of anhydrous serums and cosmetic oil and water creams.

It is intended to address skin blemishes and control a healthy skin microbiome.

Sources

Jabr, F. (2017). ‘ Do Probiotics Really Work?’. Scientific American Vol. 317, Issue 1 10.1038/scientificamerican0717-26

https://doi.org/10.1111/1574-6968.12293

https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.004060

Bharadwaj, A.R., Singh, K.N., Wood, J.M., Debieu, M., O’Hara, N.B., Karouia, F., Mason, C.E., Venkateswaran, K., (2020) ”Draft Genome Sequences of Lactobacillales Isolated from the International Space Station”. Microbiology Resource Announcements Sep 2020, 9 (39) e00942-20.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16438-8