Skin microbiome in acne vulgaris, skin aging, and rosacea: An evidence-based review

Abstract

The goal of this systematic review was to explore emerging perspectives on the role of skin microbiota in acne vulgaris, skin aging, and rosacea. We searched the literature for published clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies, both experimental and observational, whose primary main purpose was to ascertain the associations between the skin microbiome and chronic skin disease, acne vulgaris, rosacea, and skin aging, using the Embase and PubMed databases. Fifty-one relevant published articles were identified for systematic review (up to December 2021). The possible roles of the skin microbiome in these skin diseases were explored to shed light on its development and to identify potential therapeutic targets for treatment. However, the mechanisms of microbial interaction in these diseases are still under-studied. The results of this evidence-based review suggest that it may be possible to develop individualized therapies targeting the pathogenic strains within the skin microbiome involved in these diseases. This alternative therapeutic approach, involving modifications of the microbiome, may form the basis of the next generation of treatment, known collectively as “ecobiological” anti-inflammatory therapies.