The Nestlé Skin Health SHIELD Skin Microbiome Summit in New York showcased the rapid research developments which have been advancing in recent years. Professor Cath O’Neil of Manchester University, a pioneer in the skin biome, who is also CEO of SkinBioTherapeutics, welcomed the scientific focus on treating the many conditions that make life miserable for patients with skin conditions.

Professor O’Neil commented “Unfortunately there are many skin products which make claims which are not scientifically proven. It is excellent when major companies sponsor these scientific forums so that we can really develop products which work.”

The skin microbiome, or the skin microbiota, is the population of bacteria that live on the skin. Over 1,000 species of bacteria have been identified, as well as viruses, fungi, and even mites. Research into the skin microbiome is about 20 years behind research on the gut microbiome, but there is evidence that certain bacteria can help stop pathogenic bacteria growing and causing infections on the skin.

While there have been significant advances in the scientific understanding of the microbiota living on and in our skin, the most exciting research now being conducted focuses on how altering the composition of the skin microbiome could lead to improvements in skin health and even treatments for serious diseases.

SkinBioTherapeutics is at the forefront of this exciting research with its work using ‘lysates’, or extracts, of particular probiotic bacteria to deliver targeted health benefits. The lysates which have been shown to increase the skins barrier integrity; protect the skin from infection by outcompeting harmful pathogens; and increase the rate of skin healing in response to injury.

The target treatment areas for SkinBioTherapeutics are cosmetics, reducing the incidence of eczema flares, and infection prevention. Recently released human study data shows that SkinBioTherapeutics’ therapy is safe and well tolerated, and that it showed a statistically significant increase in skin hydration.