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Microbiotics & Postbiotics: A Modern Perspective

​What Are Microbiotics?

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Microbiotics is a broad term that refers to the study, management, and application of microorganisms and their components in ways that support human health and functional biological systems.


Rather than focusing on live organisms alone, microbiotics encompasses how microbial ecosystems interact with their environment — including host tissues, immune signaling,

and barrier integrity.

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In skin science, this perspective has shifted attention toward understanding how microbial balance influences skin comfort, resilience, and long-term stability, rather than targeting individual organisms in isolation.

This evolving field emphasizes systems-level balance rather than eradication.

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What Are Postbiotics?

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Postbiotics are non-viable microbial cells, cell components, and metabolites that can provide biological benefits without requiring live organisms.


They may include peptides, organic acids, polysaccharides, lipoteichoic acids, and other microbial-derived compounds.

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Unlike live probiotics, postbiotics:

  • are inherently more stable

  • are compatible with leave-on formulations

  • do not rely on colonization

  • are well-suited for sensitive or compromised skin

This has led to growing interest in postbiotics for topical applications where consistency, safety, and tolerability are essential.

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Why Skin Biology Is a Natural Fit

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The skin is not only a physical barrier — it is an active biological interface where microbial signals, immune responses, and barrier function are closely intertwined.

Current dermatological research highlights that:

  • skin barrier disruption can alter microbial balance

  • microbial imbalance can amplify inflammation

  • inflammatory signaling can further weaken the barrier

This interconnected loop helps explain why chronic skin conditions often involve both barrier and microbiome changes, and why approaches that support balance rather than disruption are increasingly explored.​​​

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How Postbiotics Could Interact with Skin 

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Postbiotic components can interact with the skin in several supportive ways:

  • Supporting barrier integrity and hydration pathways

  • Modulating skin–microbe signaling without disrupting commensals

  • Contributing to a skin environment associated with comfort and stability

  • Offering a non-steroidal option suitable for long-term maintenance

Importantly, these effects are supportive rather than corrective, aligning with dermocosmetic use between active treatment phases.

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Why Postbiotics Are Distinct from Traditional Moisturizers

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While traditional emollients focus primarily on hydration and occlusion, postbiotic-based formulations are designed to engage biological pathways related to barrier function and microbial signaling.

This distinction has positioned postbiotics as an emerging category within microbiome-aware dermocosmetics, particularly for individuals seeking supportive care beyond basic moisturization.

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How This Field Is Evolving​

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Ongoing research continues to explore how non-viable microbial components can be leveraged in topical applications to support skin health across a range of conditions — from sensitivity and dryness to inflammation-prone skin states.

As understanding of the skin microbiome deepens, postbiotics are increasingly viewed as a bridge between microbiology and dermatology, offering a stable and well-tolerated way to work with, rather than against, the skin ecosystem.

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Selected Reads
Skin Barrier Science

  • Elias PM. (2005). The skin barrier as an innate immune element. Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

  • Proksch E, Brandner JM, Jensen JM. (2008). The skin: an indispensable barrier. Experimental Dermatology.

  • Rawlings AV, Harding CR. (2004). Moisturization and skin barrier function. Dermatologic Therapy.

  • Fluhr JW, Darlenski R, Surber C. (2008). Transepidermal water loss as a key indicator of skin barrier function. Current Problems in Dermatology

 

Microbiome & Postbiotic Science

  • Byrd AL, Belkaid Y, Segre JA. (2018). The human skin microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology.

  • Sanford JA, Gallo RL. (2013). Functions of the skin microbiota in health and disease. Seminars in Immunology.

  • Aguilar-Toalá JE et al. (2018). Postbiotics: an evolving term within the functional foods field. Trends in Food Science & Technology.

  • Chen YE, Fischbach MA, Belkaid Y. (2018). Skin microbiota–host interactions. Nature.

 

Scalp & Facial Microbiome

  • Wang L et al. (2015). The scalp microbiome and its role in dandruff. Scientific Reports.

  • Park T et al. (2017). Characterization of the human scalp microbiome. Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

  • Barnard E et al. (2020). Interplay between bacteria and fungi on the skin. mBio.

© Blossom Microbiotics LLC. All rights reserved.
A North Carolina, U.S. based dermocosmetic biotechnology company.
These formulations are dermocosmetic products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
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                        More to come. Stay tuned. 
   
                             info@blossommicrobiotics.com

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