What Are the Benefits of Inulin for the Skin?

Inulin is named after the botanical genus "Inula", which includes the species elecampane (Inula helenium). This plant contains a lot of inulin of which it was first extracted at the beginning of the 19th century. However, the compound is found in numerous other plants (chicory, agave, garlic, asparagus, artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, etc.), which use it for energy storage. Chemically, it is a linear polysaccharide consisting of glucose and fructose units.

The water-soluble inulin in cosmetics is usually obtained by extraction from chicory roots, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, purification and subsequent drying by pulverization. Its I.N.C.I. name is "inulin" and it is often used in a concentration of 0.5 to 5  % in a cosmetic formulation.

Inulin is a "prebiotic", which means it is an ingredient that provides an excellent source of nutrients for the good bacteria on the surface of the skin.

The microbiota thus refers to the totality of non-pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites), so-called commensals (bacteria useful to the organism), harbored in a specific environment, the microbiome. The human microbiota harbors millions of microorganisms. There are different microbiota in the organism: on the skin, in the mouth, in the vagina, in the male reproductive organs, in the lungs....

Thanks to their antimicrobial properties, these "good" bacteria enable the body to protect itself from and defend itself against invasive pathogens. In contrast, "bad" bacteria invade the body and can damage cells and/or cause inflammation. Nevertheless, they are also essential to our bodies as they stimulate our immune defenses. A healthy microbiota is the result of a balance between these "good" and "bad" bacteria. For example, overuse of antibacterial soaps can alter the skin microbiota, causing redness and/or irritation; this is called dysbiosis.

Note: The skin microbiota varies from person to person. It depends on age, lifestyle, gender, skin pH, etc.