Alteration of barrier properties, stratum corneum ceramides and microbiome composition in response to lotion application on cosmetic dry skin

Abstract

Xerosis, commonly referred to as dry skin, is a common dermatological condition affecting almost a third of the population. Successful treatment of the condition traditionally involves the application of cosmetic products facilitating the moisturisation of the skin with a range of ingredients including glycerol and fatty acids. While the effectiveness of these treatments is not in question, limited information exists on the impact on the skin microbiome following use of these products and the improvement in skin hydration. Here, we describe improvements in skin barrier properties together with increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides and long-chain fatty acids following application of Body Lotion. Concomitant alterations in the skin microbiome are also seen via 16S rRNA metataxonomics, in combination with both traditional and novel informatics analysis. Following 5 weeks of lotion use, beneficial skin bacteria are increased, with improvements in microbiome functional potential, and increases in pathways associated with biosynthesis of multiple long chain fatty acids.

Evolution of the facial skin microbiome during puberty in normal and acne skin

“…This study was not powered to detect differences in microbial composition between sexes, mild and moderate acne subjects, the influence of oral contraceptive pills or skin products, like lotion. 46,51,52 By study design, absolute abundance data are not available. We cannot exclude the possibility of sampling errors or sequencing errors in our study, but by including negative sampling controls, mock community controls and negative sequencing controls, we used best practices to overcome these inherent limitations and remove contamination before analyses.…”

“…We recognize that our sample size in this cross‐sectional study is limited and unequal distribution of subjects between Tanner stages could influence results; thus, we analysed our cohort by early (T1‐T2) and late puberty (T3‐T5) groups based on a natural transition in microbiome diversity to mitigate the influence of this unequal distribution. This study was not powered to detect differences in microbial composition between sexes, mild and moderate acne subjects, the influence of oral contraceptive pills or skin products, like lotion 46,51,52 . By study design, absolute abundance data are not available.…”

Current insights into skin lipids and their roles in cutaneous health and disease

“…Externally provided ceramides, added in cosmetics and treatments, can improve the quality of the barrier in different ways: as well as physically improving water retention, ceramides can penetrate the stratum granulosum to serve as precursors to endogenous ceramides and other barrier lipids, they can modulate keratinocyte proliferation and/or differentiation, and interact with the cutaneous microbiome [52,53 ▪ ]. Topical formulations using ceramides and other barrier lipids have shown effectiveness in improving the quality of dry eczema-prone skin [53 ▪ ,54 ▪ ], while liposome formulations have been designed to increase the effectiveness of topical delivery [55]. As cutaneous ceramides appear to be under circadian control, timing the application of products or treatments may offer opportunities for optimal delivery and impact [56].…”

Development and Evaluation of Hydrophilic Cream Bases Suitable for Custom Cosmetic Skincare or Compounding Pharmaceutical Dermal Products

“…All proposed formulas (FI-FIV) were homogeneous with no signs of separation. The cream base pH value essentially influences the interactions between the associated ingredients under the conditions applied whilst producing the cream [36][37][38][39][40]. Consequently, when characterizing the rheology of viscous structural systems (in which the viscosity depends on the structural organization or disorganization), it is important to specify the pH value at which the evaluated rheological behaviours were manifested [38][39].…”