Skin microbiome as a signature of premature ageing appearance: Manipulation through by use of topical products

Background/Objectives Perceived facial age and chronological age can show strong discrepancy due to differential magnification of age-related features, such as wrinkles or hyperpigmented spots, that affects overall ageing appearance. The perceived skin age of an individual can hence vary significantly from the chronological age depending on environmental or lifestyle factors. Whilst age-related changes of the skin microbiome have been characterized between healthy adults at younger vs older chronological age, the inter-relationship between skin microbiome and physiological appearance of ageing remains to be elucidated. In a first ever study we compared the microbiome features of healthy adult female within a similar chronological age rage (40-50 years old) but exhibiting distinct (premature vs delayed) ageing (PA vs DA) features of wrinkle. Methods PA and DA participants were defined based on historical VISIA CR® images. 30 PA and 35 DA volunteers were recruited following informed consent and independent ethics approval. PA volunteers were given a marketed product to use twice daily for four weeks. Skin brightness, elasticity, hydration, and barrier functions were measured at baseline and 4 weeks after product use. Facial microbiome samples were collected from upper cheeks using a cup scrub technique. The microbial DNAs were extracted and sequenced at the variable region (V1-V2) of the 16S rDNA gene for bacterial classification and analysis. Results/Conclusion We revealed significant changes of the skin microbiome between PA and DA participants, with an increased abundance of Acinetobacter. By employing network theory to characterize polymicrobial interactions, we found that microbial community network of PA was more fragile and less resilient than that of DA. Topical use of a marketed skincare product could improve age-related skin physiology of premature ageing while modulating the microbiome features, showing a clear shift in the skin microbiome composition and community structure towards signatures closer to the delayed agers. Our findings unraveled the potential role of skin microbiome in accelerated ageing appearance and lay the foundation for future development of microbiome-based anti-ageing intervention strategy.