Skin Microbiome as Years Go By
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Skin Microbiome as Years Go By Paula Carolina Luna1
© The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The skin microbial communities, i.e., the microbiota, play a major role in skin barrier function so must remain dynamic to adapt to the changes in the niche environment that occur across the different body sites throughout the human lifespan. This review provides an overview of the major alterations occurring in the skin microbiome (microbial and genomic components) during the various stages of life, beginning with its establishment in the first weeks of life through to what is known about the microbiome in older populations. Studies that have helped identify the factors that most influence skin microbiome function, structure, and composition during the various life stages are highlighted, and how alterations affecting the delicate balance of the microbiota communities may contribute to variations in normal physiology and lead to skin disease is discussed. This review underlines the importance of improving our understanding of the skin microbiome in populations of all ages to gain insights into the pathophysiology of skin diseases and to allow better monitoring and targeted treatment of more vulnerable populations. Key Points Studies of the cutaneous microbiome (microbial and genomic components) across different age groups have highlighted the dynamic nature of the skin microbial communities (the microbiota), beginning during the very early stages of life following initial exposure to the maternal microbiome and continuing with shifts in community structure and diversity through to old age. Beyond the first few weeks of life, body site is a major determinant of skin microbiome structure and diversity, but many other factors that influence these site-specific communities during the different stages of life have been identified, with some alterations potentially being associated with skin disease. Understanding the skin microbiome at all stages of life is important for determining the impact of early alterations in the microbiome on future health, gaining a better understanding of the pathophysiology of skin diseases, and aiding the development of age-adapted treatments.
* Paula Carolina Luna [email protected] 1
Hopital Alemán, Pueyrredón Av 1640, C1118 AAT Buenos Aires, Argentina
1 Introduction The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is colonized by highly variable microbial communities, referred to as the microbiota, that are influenced by multiple factors. Different communities with distinct functions are present in the epidermal and dermal compartments, with the environment having a broader impact on the microbiota of the outermost layers of the epidermis [1, 2]. Skin-resident microbes contribute to the establishment of cutaneous homeostasis and can modulate inflammatory responses or trigger pathogenicity depending on the host context [3]. The mutualistic relationship between microbial communities and the host is essential for establishing the well-controlled and delicate balance neede
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