Prebiotics In Skincare
Billions of microorganisms such as bacteria live on our skin. They form our skin’s microbiome. It is an entirely individual composition, is part of the natural skin barrier and is important for the health of our skin. If our microbiome loses its balance, our skin can react sensitively or become problematic. Besides protecting it from environmental influences, a skincare routine containing prebiotics can help to restore our microbiome’s balance. Prebiotic skincare is becoming increasingly important in the light of this.
What is probiotic care?
Probiotic skincare also exists in addition to prebiotic skincare. Probiotic skincare involves viable or living microorganisms (probiotics) that are applied onto the skin, where they influence the microbiome. However, many cosmetics that are claimed to be probiotic are probably not. The reason for this is that, as soon as cosmetics are preserved, the growth of the probiotics (living bacteria) contained in them is inhibited and they die. Therefore, only unpreserved cosmetics would be genuinely probiotic and would have an accordingly short shelf life. Maintaining the viability of these microorganisms during the production process, storage and use generally poses a major challenge, hence why prebiotic skincare is much more frequent. Skincare products containing prebiotics serve as food for bacteria. The underlying principle is that our skin’s ‘good’ bacteria should benefit from this.
Can the skin barrier be restored?
The time required to re-establish the natural skin barrier varies from person to person and also depends on whether and how extensively it is damaged. Our natural skin barrier is generally renewed every 14 days. The regular use of prebiotic skincare products can positively influence the natural skin barrier’s regeneration.
Our new, innovative Barrier Balance skincare series range, formulated with prebiotics and organic green tea, strengthens and protects the natural skin barrier and fosters a healthy microbiome which can improve the complexion. Prebiotic ingredients e.g. inulin or Jerusalem artichoke extract promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, which in turn protect our skin from bacteria that causes diseases.
How to protect the skin’s microbiome
Our microbiome can lose its balance due to various influences from our own body and the environment (e.g. UV light). We recommend the following steps in order to protect it:
Try to avoid stress
Avoid too much sun
Use skincare products that are suitable for you. Prebiotic skincare promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and therefore restores the balance of the skin flora.
Avoid washing your skin too frequently with cleansing products containing aggressive surfactants that dry out the skin.
Use mild cleansing products, e.g. containing prebiotic ingredients, which are gentle on the natural skin barrier and the microbiome.
What are prebiotics?
In order to understand how prebiotic skincare works, it is first important to know what prebiotics are. They are natural nutrients for our skin’s microbiome. They promote its growth and activity. Put simply, prebiotics are therefore food for our skin’s microbiome.
The benefits of prebiotics?
Prebiotic skincare contains substances that serve as food for bacteria. The principle of prebiotic skincare is therefore that the ‘good’ bacteria on our skin should benefit from it. The prebiotics that it contains are intended to restore the skin microbiome’s balance, which they do by feeding and therefore fostering the ‘good’ bacteria on our skin. In turn, these bacteria inhibit the spread of microorganisms that causes diseases. Certain prebiotics also produce antimicrobial peptides themselves, which actively protect our skin from bacteria that causes diseases. Therefore, prebiotic skincare products do not directly repair the natural skin barrier, but instead establish an environment on our skin that is beneficial for it.
