The probiotics market is rapidly expanding, and they are becoming increasingly prevalent in cosmetic formulations. While it's true that probiotics have numerous benefits for the skin, it's also important to consider their potential side effects. Continue reading to learn more about this topic.
Side effects of topical application of probiotics?
Published on March 29, 2024, updated on March 29, 2024, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 4 min of reading
Themes:
What is a probiotic?
The probiotics are microorganisms external to the body. According to the definition given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), probiotics are "live microorganisms which, when consumed in adequate amounts, have a health benefit on the host". While they are primarily known for their therapeutic benefits and their ability to rebalance the gut microbiota, they can also be incorporated into cosmetic treatments where they provide several advantages for skin and hair health.
Probiotics have a broad range of effects and several studies have shown that they possess hydrating, healing, antioxidant, photo-protective, and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, they can be used to help alleviate the symptoms of certain skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Numerous studies have indeed demonstrated that the topical application of probiotics can help soothe sensitive skin and reduce redness and irritation.
4 minutes to understand your skin. Our dermatological diagnostic guides you toward the ideal skincare for your specific needs. Simple, quick, personalized.
Are there dangers in using probiotics for topical application?
Numerous studies have been conducted on the topical use of probiotics, and the majority have reported no side effects. Indeed, the use of probiotics has not resulted in redness, irritation, itching, or swelling following their application. There is a fairly widespread fear that probiotics, being microorganisms, could disrupt the natural skin flora. At present, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.
However, this does not prevent some researchers from believing that the current understanding of the microbiome is incomplete and that the use of such cosmetics is imprudent. Indeed, they argue that applying live probiotics to the skin could potentially disrupt the skin microbiome and lead to the proliferation of "bad" bacteria. This is why, today, in cosmetics, most products claiming to contain probiotics in their formula actually only contain "dormant" probiotics. These are microorganisms that are unable to grow but still retain their metabolic activity. More specifically, the molecules they contain remain active and can therefore be beneficial to the skin. The topical application of such probiotics then presents no danger to the skin.
Important : Even though probiotics are generally very well tolerated, including by those with sensitive skin, it is always a good idea to perform a tolerance test the first time you use a new product.
Sources
WALLEN-RUSSELL C. & WALLEN-RUSSELL S. Topical Probiotics Do Not Meet New Criteria for Effective Use Due to Insufficient Knowledge of Skin Microbiome. Cosmetics (2021).
YU J. & al. Application and mechanism of probiotics in skincare: A review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2022).
QI H. Application of Probiotics and Metazoans in Cosmetics. The 2nd International Conference on Biological Engineering and Medical Science (2023).
XU Z. & al. Applications of Probiotic Components in Cosmetics. Molecules (2023).
