What are the benefits and challenges related to live probiotic strains and prebiotics in cosmetic products?
Microorganisms populate almost every area of our planet. They are found in environments ranging from the deep sea, hot springs and other extreme environments to more apparently benign habitats closer to home, including quite literally any surface in our homes but also those of the human body. The gut microbiome is well known, but bacteria, yeasts and moulds also thrive on the surface of our respiratory tract and skin.
The skin microbiome in particular has attracted much attention from skin care professionals in recent years. It is now well established that maintaining a well-balanced equilibrium of various species is key to the skin’s—and ultimately our own—health and that any imbalance in the microbiome’s diversity is at the origin of multiple skin disorders.
Maintaining or improving a healthy skin microbiome the use of pre-, pro- and postbiotics is gradually gaining importance in personal care. The main challenge lies in the area of probiotics, which implies the introduction of living bacteria into a cream, lotion or other formulation.
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