Topical Probiotics Restores Skin Microflora and Shows Promise in Decreasing Acne Lesions and Other Skin Disorders
Topical Probiotics Restores Skin Microflora and Shows Promise in Decreasing Acne Lesions and other skin disorders.
Says Rebecca Knackstedt, MD, PhD, Plastic and reconstructive surgery resident at Cleveland Clinic.
Similar to the workings of oral probiotics, when specially formulated probiotic topical sprays and serums are applied externally to the skin of both animal and humans, the results demonstrated promise in the efficacy in treating topical skin diseased states, says the authors of this recently published dermatology report in Experimental Dermatology.
Not a lot of studies have been performed to investigate the benefits between external probiotics and acne management, but the data that does exist suggests that external grade probiotics can be useful against acne as well as other inflammatory skin issues and diseases such as eczema, writes Rebecca Knackstedt, M.D., of the Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, and Thomas Knackstedt, M.D., of the Department of Dermatology, MetroHealth, Cleveland.
The skins microflora plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation and the immune response system of the skin. Abnormalities to the skins normal regulation of its microflora is believed to be the reason for the occurance of acne and many other dermal issues.
Patients with acne who have been treated with topical probiotics have also been found to experience a reduction in the concentration of lesion, erythema (superficial reddening of the skin in patches) and pathogenic bacteria load with an improvement in the skin microbial barrier.
“…as acne is associated with an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, and the mainstays of therapy are often antibiotics, topical probiotics could restore a more desired microflora to decrease acne lesions without systemic side effects,” Drs. Rebecca Knackstedt and Thomas Knackstedt wrote.
Topical probiotics have also been shown to have an impact in the treatment of atopic dermatitis based on this collaborative review.
References:
1. Knackstedt R, Knackstedt T, Gatherwright J. The role of topical probiotics on skin conditions: A systematic review of animal and human studies and implications for future therapies. Exp Dermatol. 2019;
2. Fitz-gibbon S, Tomida S, Chiu BH, et al. Propionibacterium acnes strain populations in the human skin microbiome associated with acne. J Invest Dermatol. 2013;133(9):2152-60.
3. Baquerizo nole KL, Yim E, Keri JE. Probiotics and prebiotics in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(4):814-21.