Epidermal anti-ageing with a probiotic skin care approach

As they do not feel old, they are not compellingly interested in looking younger but in looking the best way they can. And that means above all as healthy as possible. Healthy-looking skin is closely related to the actual main purpose of our skin, to function as a physical barrier between our body and the harmful outside world. Being our skin’s top layer, the epidermis is responsible for maintaining this function. 

Ageing has a significant impact on the renewal processes in the epidermis. The proliferation rate of the keratinocytes in the basal layer becomes progressively reduced and is reported to be up to 50% slower in people 80+ years old. The effectiveness of the differentiation process is reduced, which also means that the production of key elements in the skin’s barrier function and quality is impaired. Additionally, ageing leads to a loss of so-called immunocompetence in the epidermis.

To safeguard the skin’s ability to uphold its barrier function, the epidermis can and must act as a ‘biosensor’. Challenges, such as a fluctuation in environmental humidity or sunlight, etc., can actually be ‘perceived’ by the differentiating keratinocytes, which are able to instantly react and compensate for the challenge’s negative influence on the skin’s barrier function. At the basis of this characteristic lies the ability of the differentiating keratinocytes to react immunologically. A loss of effectiveness in the skin’s renewal processes and reduced immunocompetence are essential factors in why aged skin looks less healthy and therefore are essential targets in supplying modern-day consumers with satisfactory anti-ageing skin care products.