The role of the skin microbiome in inherited ichthyoses: A systematic review

Background: Inherited ichthyoses (iI) are a heterogeneous group of keratinization disorders, whose microbiome composition and the role of dysbiosis remain largely unexplored. Objectives: Characterization of the skin microbiome profile in iI and exploration of the significance of dysbiosis based on the literature. Methods: A systematic search was performed across MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus on 23 September 2024. Studies with culture-based and molecular diagnostic methods were included. Results: were significantly reduced in all ichthyoses examined. These changes were closely related to clinical severity, transepidermal water loss, and elevated proinflammatory cytokines. Limitations: The heterogeneity of studies is a limitation. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the distinct microbiome profiles of different iI subtypes, marked by an imbalance, enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms, and a reduction in protective microbes. This dysbiosis is linked to disease severity and inflammation.