The Impact of Skin Care Products on Skin Chemistry and Microbiome Dynamics

• NCJ Number: 254174
• Journal: Bmc Biology Volume: 17 Dated: 2019
• Author(s): Amina Bouslimani; Ricardo da Silva; Tomasz Kosciolek; Stefan Janssen; Chris Callewaert; Kathleen Dorrestein; Amnon Amir; Kathleen Dorrestein; Alexey V. Melnick; Livia S. Zaramela; Ji-Nu Kim; Gregory Humphrey; Tara Schwartz; Karenina Sanders
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2015-DN-BX-K047
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Forensic Identification Using Individual Chemical Signatures

Annotation

Because the regular use of skin personal care products is nearly ubiquitous, but their effects on molecular and microbial diversity of the skin are unknown, the current study assessed the impact of four beauty products (a facial lotion, a moisturizer, a foot powder, and a deodorant) on 11 volunteers over 9 weeks.

Abstract

Mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA inventories of the skin revealed decreases in chemical as well as in bacterial and archaeal diversity on halting deodorant use. Specific compounds from beauty products used before the study remain detectable with half-lives of 0.5-1.9 weeks. The deodorant and foot powder increased molecular, bacterial, and archaeal diversity, while arm and face lotions had little effect on bacterial and archaeal but increased chemical diversity. Personal care product effects lasted for weeks and produced highly individualized responses, including alterations in steroid and pheromone levels and in bacterial and archaeal ecosystem structure and dynamics. The study suggests that its findings may lead to next-generation precision beauty products and therapies for skin disorders. (publisher abstract modified)