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J. Cosmet. Sci., 75.6, 626–632 (November/December 2024)
*Address all correspondence to Allison Garlet, allison.garlet@basf.com
Exploring the Connections Between Skin Microbiome and
Aging: A Review
ALLISON GARLET
BASF Corporation, Florham Park, New Jersey, USA
Accepted for publication September 6, 2024.
Synopsis
The pursuit of young and resilient skin has been a long-held goal for many individuals. Over the years,
traditional approaches toward well-aging and corrective aging skincare have provided valuable insights into
the biomechanical properties of the skin and how it relates to perceptions around skin aging. With the advent
of microbiomics as a field of study in the late 2000s, new studies and techniques have emerged to observe
skin microbiome communities. These advances offer a deeper understanding of the conditions observed in
youthful looking skin. This article reviews the existing literature on skin microbiome aging and explores the
connections between microbial observations and skin measurements associated with aging.
SKIN, OUR LARGEST ORGAN
The skin is the largest organ of the human body, responsible for maintaining protection,
immunity, homeostasis, and preventing water loss.1 This view of skin’s function is not the
full story, however. The skin’s microbiome also plays a significant role in maintaining skin
health, immunity, and function.2 It is composed of a diverse community of microorganisms,
including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that represents a large amount of exogenous genetic
potential on skin, estimated to be 100 times greater than human genes alone.3 Knowledge
of the skin microbiome was once limited by culture-dependent studies, which could only
detect less than 1% of bacterial species.4 Recent advancements in sequencing technologies,
such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing, have allowed for a more comprehensive understanding
of the skin microbiome.5–12 Some studies have used whole genome sequencing, achieving
even more resolution and providing insights on the impact of less populous species or
strains present in skin microbiome communities.13–17
THE SKIN MICROBIOME
The composition of the skin microbiome is influenced by various factors. The microbiome
is dominated by four main bacterial phyla: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and