A balanced skin microbiota is crucial for maintaining skin health and various vital physiological processes. Conversely, an imbalanced microbiota has been linked to several human skin disorders, including acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Amidst growing concerns about the side effects of antibiotic treatments, such as antibiotic resistance and depletion of commensals, the field of skin microbiome engineering has attracted considerable attention.
Many scientists advocate that the future treatment of skin diseases in both humans and animals should extend beyond antibiotics, corticosteroids, or traditional strategies alone.
The engineering of the skin microbiota could emerge as a powerful tool for treating skin diseases in the future. The schematic illustration below demonstrates some strategies aimed at targeting the skin microbiome.
Reference
Roslan et al. Recent advances in single-cell engineered live biotherapeutic products research for skin repair and disease treatment. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2023
About the author
Dr. Aline Santana is a Brazilian veterinarian with over 12 years of experience in both research and private dermatology practice. In 2021, she completed her PhD in veterinary dermatology at the University of São Paulo (Brazil), with a sandwich period at the University of Minnesota, where she conducted research on the skin microbiome of cats. Since 2012, she has been an active member of the Brazilian Society of Veterinary Dermatology (SBDV). From 2015 to 2021, Dr. Santana served as the director of social media marketing, contributing to the organization's outreach and communication efforts.
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