A short review about cutaneous microbiome

Abstract

Since 2000, when Nobel prize winner, Joshua Lederberg defined the term “cutaneous microbiome” much attention has been drawn to clarifying the role of microorganisms in maintaining homeostasis. This article aims to outline the several implications of the cutaneous microbiome related to dermatology practice.
The skin microbiome represents the community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that colonizes the skin. Prior research on healthy volunteers indicate the presence of four major bacterial species: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacterioides. Previous studies have proved that the skin microbiome influences the innate and the adaptive immune responses. This theory may be the key in establishing the etiopathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris and rosacea. The diversity of microorganisms harbored on the healthy skin surface is different from one body area to another, according to pH, temperature, age, hygiene. Any imbalance in the physiological features will have consequences on the commensal flora. A decrease of the commensal microorganisms will lead to higher levels of pathogens, exposing the skin barrier, leading to infection and chronic inflammation as seen in atopic dermatitis. New studies are focusing on how treatments affect the cutaneous microbiome. Different kinds of topical treatments can interfere with the normal flora, which can cause soreness and slow healing. In psoriasis, it has been suggested that the microbial diversity is limited by the production of antimicrobial peptides, which is relieved by therapy. Future research in this field can highlight new therapies in dermatology, provide answers concerning etiopathogeneses and better understanding of cutaneous inflammatory diseases.