Microbiome
Billions of microorganisms, such as bacteria, live on our skin. They form the microbiome of our skin. It is uniquely composed, part of the skin barrier, and important for our skin health. If our microbiome gets out of balance, our skin can react sensitively or with diseases. In addition to protection from environmental influences, a care routine with prebiotics can also help restore balance to our microbiome. Against this background, prebiotic skincare is becoming increasingly important.
In addition to prebiotic skincare, there is also probiotic skincare. What is probiotic skincare? It contains viable or even living microorganisms (probiotics) that are applied to the skin and influence the microbiome there. However, many cosmetics marketed as probiotic probably are not. Because as soon as cosmetics are preserved and made shelf-stable, the growth of the probiotics contained in them (= living bacteria) is inhibited and they die. Thus, only unpreserved cosmetics would truly be probiotic and correspondingly have a short shelf life. In general, maintaining the viability of these microorganisms during production, storage, and use is a major challenge. Therefore, prebiotic skincare is much more common. It contains substances that serve as food for bacteria. The principle behind this is that the "good" bacteria on our skin should benefit from it.
If you’re wondering, can the balance of the skin barrier be restored? The answer is yes! The skin barrier can be restored, and using prebiotic skincare can help strengthen the skin barrier.
How long does it take for a damaged skin barrier to regain balance?
The time required to rebuild the skin barrier can vary individually and also depends on whether and how severely the skin barrier is damaged. Generally, our skin barrier renews itself every 14 days. Regular use of prebiotic skincare products can have a positive effect on the regeneration of the skin barrier.
Which products promote the regeneration of the skin barrier?
Our new innovative Barrier Balance care series with prebiotics and organic green tea strengthens and protects the skin barrier, promotes a healthy microbiome, and can improve the skin’s appearance. The prebiotic ingredients contained, such as inulin, lactobacillus ferment, or Jerusalem artichoke extract, support the growth of beneficial bacteria that in turn protect our skin from harmful bacteria.
Would you like to learn more about the microbiome and the benefits of prebiotic skincare? In this article, we explain the most important background information and show you which prebiotic ingredients lavera Natural Beauty uses in the new Barrier Balance care series.
What is the skin microbiome?
The microbiome or skin microbiome refers to the billions of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that live on our skin, scalp, and mucous membranes. The exact composition of the microbiome varies from person to person as well as depending on the skin area. For example, different microorganisms can be found in moist-warm skin areas such as the armpit compared to the rather dry skin of the forearms or the forehead, which contains more sebum.
What functions does the microbiome have?
The microbiome forms an invisible beneficial ecosystem. It plays an important role in maintaining our skin health. It protects our skin from harmful organisms, regulates the skin's pH balance, prevents infections, and supports the immune system as well as the skin's metabolism. Furthermore, the microbiome ensures optimal moisture balance and, as part of the skin barrier, protects against the penetration of irritants and allergens.
How exactly does our microbiome protect us from disease-causing organisms?
“Good” bacteria, for example, grow on our skin and create an acidic environment that is unfavorable for many harmful bacteria. There are also bacteria that, through their own metabolic processes, prevent colonization by germs that would make our skin sick.
Most of these microorganisms living on healthy skin are either harmless or beneficial to our skin. But alongside these peaceful organisms, there are also aggressive ones – as long as the beneficial microorganisms outnumber and suppress the harmful ones, our skin remains healthy. Genetic factors or environmental influences such as UV light, stress, or improper care can disrupt our microbiome. When our microbiome is disturbed, it can lead to various skin conditions or diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, sensitive skin, or acne.
How do I protect the microbiome of my skin?
Various influences from your own body and the environment (e.g., UV light) can cause our microbiome to become unbalanced. To protect it, we recommend the following:
• Avoid stress as much as possible and learn to manage it
• Avoid too much sun
• Use skincare suitable for you, such as prebiotic skincare that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and thus restores the balance of the skin flora
• Avoid washing your skin too frequently
• Avoid cleansing products with harsh surfactants that dry out the skin
• Use mild cleansing products, for example with prebiotic ingredients, that are gentle on the skin barrier and microbiome
What are prebiotics?
To understand the mechanism of action of prebiotic skincare, it is first important to know what prebiotics are. These are natural nutrients for the microbiome of our skin. They promote its growth and activity. In everyday language, prebiotics are the food for the microbiome of our skin. They are important for maintaining a healthy skin microbiome.
The World Health Organization WHO defines probiotics as live microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) suitable for consumption that, when administered in adequate amounts, provide health benefits to humans.
What is prebiotic skincare and what are the benefits of prebiotic skincare?
Prebiotic skincare contains substances that serve as food for bacteria. The principle of prebiotic skincare is that the "good" bacteria on our skin should benefit from it. The prebiotics contained in it aim to restore the disturbed skin microbiome to balance – they do this by feeding and promoting the "good" bacteria on our skin. These bacteria, in turn, inhibit the spread of harmful microorganisms. Certain prebiotics also produce antimicrobial peptides themselves, which actively protect our skin from harmful bacteria. Prebiotic skincare products therefore do not directly repair the skin barrier but create a milieu on our skin that is beneficial for it.
Benefits of prebiotic skincare
1. Strengthening the skin barrier
Prebiotic skincare products help strengthen the skin barrier by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria that protect the skin from harmful bacteria and balance the skin flora.
2. Promoting a healthy microbiome
Prebiotics support a balanced skin microbiome, which is necessary to keep the skin healthy and resilient. Prebiotics serve as nourishment for beneficial bacteria and help strengthen the balance of the skin flora.
3. Improvement of skin appearance
Scientific studies have shown that prebiotic skincare products can increase skin moisture, smooth the skin, and reduce age spots and the appearance of wrinkles. They help to keep the skin healthy.
Prebiotic ingredients in lavera Natural Beauty products
lavera Natural Beauty relies on the power of natural ingredients to promote skin health and strengthen the skin barrier. Our prebiotic ingredients are carefully selected to support the growth of beneficial bacteria and promote a healthy skin microbiome.
Lactobacillus Ferment (INCI: Lactobacillus Ferment)
This fermentation product supports the skin barrier by containing antimicrobial peptides that displace harmful bacteria on the skin and balance the skin flora. It also has moisturizing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, it can support skin cell renewal, help improve the skin’s appearance, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Jerusalem artichoke extract (INCI: Lactobacillus / Helianthus Tuberosus Tuber Ferment Extract)
Rich in inulin, this extract supports the growth of beneficial bacteria. Inulin serves as food for beneficial bacteria and helps maintain the balance of the skin flora.
Indian prickly pear extract (INCI: Opuntia ficus-indica stem extract)
The extract from the prickly pear cactus is particularly rich in nutrients. It exhibits prebiotic activity by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, enabling them to better compete with harmful bacteria. It helps maintain the balance in the bacterial community.
Ginger & Organic Green Tea (INCI: Lactobacillus/Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract/Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract Ferment Filtrate)
Ginger contains prebiotic fibers that can support the growth of good bacteria. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help maintain a healthy skin flora. Due to its antimicrobial properties, ginger can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, which in turn can lead to a more balanced microbiome. Green tea has anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce irritation and redness, helping the skin to repair itself.
Our Barrier Balance care series without perfume and without alcohol combines all these ingredients and thus offers you everything you need for your new prebiotic routine
Barrier Balance care series
Sources
German Society for Scientific and Applied Cosmetics e.V. (DGK) (2022). Skin Microbiome and Cosmetics – an Inventory. https://dgk-ev.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Microbiom.pdf
Draelos, Z. D. (2012). New treatments for restoring impaired epidermal barrier permeability: Skin barrier repair creams. Clinics in Dermatology, 30(3), 345-348.
Dumbuya, H., Podimatis, K., Kerob, D. & Draelos, Z. D. (2024). Efficacy of a Prebiotic Skincare Regimen on Improving Mild Atopic Dermatitis and Severe Xerosis in Diverse Ethnic Patients. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 23(3), https://doi.org/10.36849/jdd.sf395747
Li, M., Mao, J., Diaz, I., Kopylova, E., Melnik, A. V., Aksenov, A. A., Tipton, C. D., Soliman, N., Morgan, A. M. & Boyd, T. (2023). Multi-omic approach to decipher the impact of skincare products with pre/postbiotics on skin microbiome and metabolome. Front. Med., 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1165980
Simmering, R. & Breves, R. (2011). Prebiotic Cosmetics. In Krutmann, J. & Humbert, P. (Eds.), Nutrition for Healthy Skin. Strategies for Clinical and Cosmetic Practice (pp. 137-147). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.