Soothing scalp active is mild to microbiota

Increasing pollution levels, climate change, and stress are known to affect our skin and cause sensitive skin reactions.1 But they also affect our scalp,2 a specific type of skin with a higher density of follicles and sebaceous glands than can be found on other parts of the body.3 Sebaceous glands, which produce large amounts of sebum,3 are important for the maintenance of epidermal barrier integrity. They carry antioxidants to the skin surface,4 the sebum they produce is a source of nutrients for the micro-organisms composing the microbiota,3 and give protection against solar irradiation. But when these glands are stimulated by environmental factors, they over-produce sebum, which can cause irritations,5 leading to itching, which in turn causes squames and additional irritation reactions, creating a vicious circle

For the 40% of the population suffering from scalp sensitivity, quality of life can be impacted, with scalp sensitivity triggering psychological stress responsible for the loss of self-esteem and confidence.6 These consumers search for efficient treatments to relieve the symptoms. They look for products with anti-irritants, sebum control, or anti-dandruff properties amongst others. But when the production of sebum and squames is modified, this creates a change in the source of food used by the commensal micro-organisms that compose our scalp’s microbiota. Indeed, scalp has its own microbiota which play a role in its homeostasis and protection. The bacterial microbiota present a large diversity with the most abundant bacteria being Cutibacterium spp. and Staphylococcus spp.7 The balance between these communities is critical to scalp health. While mild sensitive scalp is not considered to be pathological, it is important to respect the scalp’s microbiota balance in order not to generate new scalp issues.

In addition to looking for efficient scalp soothing products that would respect their microbiota, consumers are also increasingly taking into consideration the sourcing of the products they buy. Green and sustainable ingredients go hand in hand with an image of safety and quality. And in a world where it is now obvious that mistreating biodiversity can lead to damaging consequences, reducing the amount of natural resources used and looking for local ones can bring additional value to the products.