Objectives: 1). To characterise the skin microbiome
2). To examine how the microbiome differs between dry and non-dry skin
3). To understand how the skin microbiome changes in response to treatment
Introduction: Considerable work has been invested in understanding the composition of the skin microbiome, how this differs between body sites and changes in medical conditions.
However, despite its high prevalence in society, little work has been undertaken to investigate the microbiome of dry skin and to understand how this changes in external challenges.
Materials / method: Cohort studies were undertaken in two geographically distinct locations (European
and North American) wherein a total of 222 subjects were recruited and lower leg skin classified as dry or non-dry based on visual assessment. Microbiome protocols employed to extract and analyse the microbial 16S rRNA gene prior to taxonomic, diversity and network analysis of microbiome data.
Results: All measures revealed a high degree of consistency between the two geographic cohorts. Staphylococcus, Cutibacterium, and Corynebacterium were the dominant genera in both cohorts and both skin types. Significant differences in microbiome diversity were observed using some metrics and microbiome network analysis demonstrated that in both cohorts the microbiome of dry skin exhibits decreased connectivity and resilience relative to that of non-dry skin.
Conclusion: This is the first study of the dry skin microbiome to compare large cohorts of subjects across multiple geographies. In contrast to previously published studies which used small cohorts, this study found no difference in α-diversity between dry and normal skin. Instead, this study found clear and consistent differences in microbiome β-diversity and network co-occurrence. These changes suggest that the microbiome of dry skin is compromised, exhibiting decreased connectivity and increased fragility relative to the microbiome of non-dry skin.
Disclosures
Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Research supported by Unilever R&D
Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Salary as an employee of Unilever
Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Unilever R&D
Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No
This work is presented thanks to the support of: Unilever R&D