How a Microbiome Disruption Can Cause Acne: An Expert Explains

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, which is home to many microorganisms. These invisible life forms are known as the "skin microbiome," which is an important part of our overall health.

What is the microbiome made of?

The skin microbiome is divided into two groups of microorganisms - resident (permanent) flora and transient (temporary) flora.

• Resident flora is the core of the microorganisms found on our skin and helps maintain its health.
• Transient flora are pathogenic microorganisms from the environment that temporarily live on the skin.

Resident flora is necessary for maintaining the function of the skin barrier, playing an important role in protecting against potential pathogens through competition and the production of antimicrobial substances. Transient bacteria temporarily colonize the skin because they are unable to reproduce due to the blocking effect of the resident microbiota.

How does the skin microbiome change throughout life?

The composition of the skin microbiome varies throughout the body. Some microorganisms predominate in moist areas, such as the palms or soles of the feet. Others prefer dry or oily areas of the skin. Furthermore, the composition of the skin microbiome also undergoes temporary changes throughout life. It is believed that the formation of the skin microbiome begins in the fetus. During birth, the newborn's skin is exposed to microorganisms from the birth canal. The newborn's skin microbiome is further influenced by interactions with the external environment.
During puberty, the skin microbiome undergoes a major shift: hormones involved in puberty provoke abundant sebum production, which promotes the active growth of certain bacteria (for example, Cutibacterium acnes) during the transition to a more adult microbiome.

After puberty, despite the constant influence of the external environment and individual factors that are imposed on the skin, the microbial composition of the skin remains relatively stable. The stability of these microbiomes is maintained by mutually beneficial conditions between microorganisms and the host.

Can the skin microbiome be disrupted?

The dynamic balance between resident and pathogenic species remains fundamental to skin health. However, under certain circumstances, such as when the skin's protective barrier is compromised or an imbalance between resident and pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis) occurs, inflammatory skin conditions can develop. Acne is the most common type of problem skin. Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition that occurs when several factors interact. In addition to increased sebum production and clogged sebaceous gland ducts, another major factor in acne development has recently been discovered - the microbiome and its interaction with the innate immune system. 
The number of Cutibacterium acnes in patients with problem skin is the same as in healthy people, but when the balance between the different types of C. acnes is lost, combined with dysbiosis of the skin microbiome, this leads to the development of inflammation. 
The goal of acne treatment is not to eliminate C. acnes, but to prevent or treat dysbiosis.

How to keep your skin healthy? 

Some studies suggest that the health of your gut microbiome affects your skin microbiome. Eat more plant-based foods: they contain prebiotics (indigestible carbohydrates, like fiber), which “good” bacteria love.

• Exercise.

Physical activity is good for overall health. It can also improve your gut microbiome, which will benefit your skin microbiome.

• Quit smoking.

Smoking is harmful in many ways. Research shows that it can cause inflammation and disrupt the skin microbiome.

• Don't over-cleans your skin.

You can disrupt the balance of your microbiome if you cleanse your skin too often. Intensive washing damages the skin barrier, leads to a loss of antimicrobial factors and a disruption of the innate immune system. For the care of oily and problematic skin, I recommend daily use of pharmacy cosmetics that have undergone clinical studies and are recommended by dermatologists, such as products from the Seracin collection by LIBREDERM.

Seracin LIBREDERM care program for problematic skin: 2 steps

Step 1. Cleansing
For daily cleansing, use Seracin cleansing gel. This product effectively removes excess sebum, impurities, and makeup without drying or tightening the skin. A balancing complex with zinc salt and sulfur in the product provide cleansing, antiseptic and sebum-regulating effects, and a complex of plant ingredients provides optimal skin hydration.
Step 2. Basic care
Moisturizing strengthens your skin barrier, thereby maintaining the constancy of the microbiome. Moisturizers can also contain various components that support the normal skin microflora. The skin microbiome is of growing interest in the field of cosmetics. Recently, studies have been conducted on the positive effects of cosmetic additives on the skin microbiome, which can help restore the skin's barrier function and improve the course of diseases.
Various cosmeceutical manufacturers add prebiotics, probiotics or ingredients that are beneficial for the skin microbiome to their formulations.
Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in sufficient amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Cosmetics contain microbial derivatives in the form of lysates. Prebiotics are not living microorganisms, but rather substances that provide an optimal environment for the proliferation of beneficial bacteria. These include various oligo- and polysaccharides. In the LIBREDERM Seracin series, I like the DUO corrective cream-gel, which perfectly moisturizes problem skin. It contains a purifying antibacterial complex that actively fights pathogenic microorganisms, maintains the balance of the microbiota, and helps damaged skin restore its physiological pH. This product also contains the prebiotic inulin, which promotes the preservation and proliferation of the skin's natural microflora. Niacinamide regulates sebum production and also exhibits prebiotic activity. The main effect of this product is to reduce the visible appearance of imperfections and residual traces of post-acne, such as red and dark spots. It helps even out skin tone, prevents the recurrence of imperfections, clogged pores, and blackheads, stimulates cell renewal, reduces sebum production, creates a long-lasting mattifying effect, and tightens pores.
By following these recommendations, you can preserve your skin's microbiome, thereby preventing the development of inflammatory elements.