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March 7, 2023

To say that microbiome has a profound effect on the appearance and health of the skin would be an understatement. It would also be, well, slightly inaccurate. Your skin microbiome not only influences your skin, it’s actually part of it—helping create the barrier function, producing essential postbiotics (like hyaluronic acid, essential fatty acids, and peptides), warding off environmental stressors, enhancing the immune system, and more. 

While this is a relatively new area of research, we’re constantly learning more about how vital this skin flora is and how many functions it really has. And one untapped area of study is the biome’s role in collagen production and degradation. Well, recent research suggests that there may be an important relationship to uncover. 

The skin microbiome is the collection of the trillions of organisms that live on the skin. As I’ve noted, there’s a lot we don’t know about it, but we do know that it communicates with our immune system, manages inflammation, protects against environmental stressors, and produces vital nutrients for the skin (called postbiotics). We also know that the organisms that make up the microbiome are dynamic and ever-changing. Lots of things can influence which species live on and dominate your skin, such as your age, hormones, your environment, and more. 

On the subject of age-related changes to the microbiome, there seems to be a connection between loss of microbiome diversity and collagen production. Recent research (that has yet to be peer reviewed) identified some key differences in the microbiomes of women in their 50s versus women in their 20s. One of their findings that the researchers are still exploring is that participants who had certain strains of the bacterial species Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis also had a decline of collagen levels in the skin. It’s notable because the strains they identified had also been previously associated with inflammation in the skin. 

However, many researchers in the space (like those of this review1) also note that more studies are needed to understand the complicated and multifactorial interplay between the skin microbiome and our overall skin health1. 

For example, well-formulated topical measures can often support both. Some biotic ingredients not only help balance and nurture the skin microbiome, but they can help reduce inflammation in the skin and, therefore, protect the collagen layer. A biotech-created postbiotic found in mindbodygreen’s postbiotic hand cream and body lotion has been shown to improve epidermal framework reconstruction, ease inflammation, and can even reduce wrinkle depth. The postbiotic also contains a special peptide, palmitoyl oligopeptide, which has been shown to promote the production of collagen4 and hyaluronic acid in the skin. 

Or take UV exposure. Not only is sun damage one of the primary contributing factors to collagen decline, but it can actually alter the microbiome. Research shows that burns can cause altered balance in the biome. On the flip side, a thriving, well maintained microbiome can help shield your skin from the oxidative effects5 of the sun. So this relationship is multi-directional: You need to project your biome from UV exposure, and if you do, it can ease the potential consequences of sun bathing. 

There’s also inside-out support. While we’re still learning about how closely the gut and skin microbiome are related6 (as in, do changes in one directly influence changes in the other), we do at the very least know there’s a downstream effect. What I mean by this is that if there are issues with the gut microbiome, that can trigger inflammation throughout the body resulting in a cascade of changes that, yes, might ultimately change the skin microbiome. That’s why dermatologists will recommend taking probiotic supplements to balance the gut microbiome. You can also look for collagen supplements, which contain amino acids, to not only support the gut lining but also provide the body the building blocks for collagen itself.