Skin-resident commensal microbiota

The skin-resident commensal microbiota is a complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that colonize the human skin surface and its appendages. This community serves as a vital component of the skin's biological barrier, providing protection against pathogens through competitive exclusion and the secretion of antimicrobial peptides (Byrd et al., 2018, Nature Reviews Microbiology). It also plays a fundamental role in modulating the host's immune system, influencing both innate and adaptive responses to maintain cutaneous homeostasis (Belkaid & Segre, 2014, Science). Dysbiosis, or the disruption of this microbial balance, is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, and psoriasis (Kong et al., 2012, Genome Research). Therapeutic targeting of the skin microbiota involves the use of traditional antibiotics to reduce pathogen load, as well as novel biotherapeutic approaches including probiotics (live beneficial bacteria), prebiotics (substrates promoting beneficial growth), and postbiotics (metabolic byproducts) designed to restore a healthy microbial signature (Nakatsuji et al., 2017, Science Translational Medicine). These interventions aim to suppress pathogenic overgrowth while promoting the growth of beneficial commensals to improve skin health and barrier integrity.

Other names

Skin microbiomeCutaneous microbiotaSkin floraDermal microbiomeSkin microflora

Modulation of microbial community composition through competitive exclusion, production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and regulation of host innate and adaptive inflammatory pathways.