Abstract
Prebiotic treatment may rebalance the skin microbiota by regulating the growth of harmful and beneficial microorganisms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (N = 60), we evaluated the effects of a cosmetic serum containing galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on the balance of the skin microbiota by measuring various skin parameters. The skin water-holding capacity between the control (ND) and experimental (NF) groups was significantly different after 8 weeks of serum treatment (p < 0.05). Similarly, changes in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and the erythema index in the ND and NF groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the wrinkle depth and Staphylococcus aureus population decreased in the NF group compared with those in the ND group (p < 0.05). The mean form factor, Shannon index, and Pediococcus population were significantly increased in the post-NF group compared with those in the post-ND group (p < 0.05). Finally, in the ND group, water-holding capacity was positively correlated with Enhydrobacter, whereas Enterobacteriaceae was negatively correlated with TEWL in the NF group. These results suggest that GOS inhibit the growth of harmful skin microbes and increase the population of beneficial microbes.
Highlights
The skin acts as a barrier that defends against potential hazards and toxins from the surrounding environment [1]
Among the major genera belonging to Firmicutes, the abundance of Staphylococcus was not significantly different when compared between the pre-ND and pre-NF treatment group (NF) groups or the pre-NF and post-NF groups; when comparing the post-ND and post-NF groups, significant differences were found following the application of GOS-containing cosmetic serum (p < 0.05, Figure 5 and Supplementary 3)
No statistically significant difference was observed in the bacterial richness on the facial skin of the post-NF group compared with the post-ND group; the diversity of the bacterial communities was found to be caused by the application of the GOS-containing cosmetic serum (Figure 4)
Summary
The skin acts as a barrier that defends against potential hazards and toxins from the surrounding environment [1]. The skin microbiota produces various metabolites, such as aureusimine A and B, which directly induce differential gene expression in human keratinocytes [5,6,7]. The functions of these metabolites are reported to be involved in the expression of the virulence factor gene in S. aureus, inhibition of protease in eukaryotic cells, and interspecies bacterial communication [7]. We evaluated the 8-week treatment with GOS-containing cosmetic serum is effective in improving various skin parameters and the population of beneficial skin microbes
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