S. Hettwer, E. Besic Gyenge, B. Suter, B. Obermayer
Fermentation preserves food by displacing unwanted microorganisms. Does it work in the same way with skin? Fermented products are becoming increasingly popular in the food sector. Although it is an ancient process for preserving food, fermentation is a very modern topic, including in the cosmetics industry. It is known that certain lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus sakei can positively affect atopic dermatitis (taken orally) [1]. Here we show that millet ferment, produced with lactic acid bacteria from sourdough production, can also positively influence atopic skin when applied topically. We demonstrated that bacteria of a healthy skin microbiota can gain a growth advantage and thus lead the skin out of dryness stress. A dermatological assessment of the atopic condition showed a rapid reduction of symptoms even compared to placebo-treated areas