Sustainable fermented oat extract for a balanced skin

 This present article profiles the key attributes and initial study data of a new fermented potential prebiotic colloidal oatmeal (aurafirm), derived from the high performance patented Oat COM, utilising Lactobacillicultures. aurafirm is a natural active containing a prebiotic complex of fermented oat ingredients delivering favourable environmental skin conditions, improved stratum corneum thickness, and with a potential to help support and rebalance the skin’s normal microbiome. 

Oat extracts are extremely complex and made up of a multitude of biochemical components, and for many centuries oatmeal (Avena sativa) has been used to treat and soothe a variety of irritating skin conditions associated notably with dry sensitive skin, especially atopic dermatitis. Literature research shows that both in vitro and in vivostudies demonstrate the antiinflammatory activity of oat extracts1, 2 which seems to be linked to the high content of antioxidants (as well as containing avenanthramides, avenacins, (saponins), flavanoids, phenolics, β-glucan, triglycerides, phospholipids, vitamin E, starch and peptides).3,4 Phenolic compounds, in particular the avenanthramides, have potent antiinflammatory activity. In vitrostudies have shown that they may decrease inflammation through inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-κB in keratinocytes and thus inhibit the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8.5

The skin is naturally enveloped in its own microbiome6 and these are unique to each individual, with no two person’s microbiome being completely identical. Each skin’s microbiome plays a key role in the maturation and homeostatic regulation of keratinocytes and immune system7 with dysfunction of both from the environment and lifestyle choices, implicated in ageing processes and disease. Pre- and probiotic beneficial effects can be delivered topically or by ingestion. They have the capacity to optimise, maintain and restore the skin’s microbiome — topical applications of probiotics have a direct effect at the site of application by enhancing the skins natural defence barriers. Probiotics with resident microflora can produce antimicrobial peptides benefiting cutaneous immune responses. In cosmetic formulations, prebiotics applied to the skin should in theory, be able increase selectively the activity and growth of beneficial ‘normal’ skin microflora.8