Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Jun 2021)

Analysis of the Bacterial Flora of Sensitive Facial Skin Among Women in Guangzhou

  • Qiao Z,
  • Huang S,
  • Leng F,
  • Bei Y,
  • Chen Y,
  • Chen M,
  • Hu Y,
  • Huang Y,
  • Xiang Q

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 655 – 664

Abstract

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Zhifen Qiao,1,* Shiyi Huang,1,* Fang Leng,1,2 Yu Bei,2 Yingzhi Chen,2 Minjie Chen,2 Yunfeng Hu,3 Yadong Huang,1,2 Qi Xiang1,2 1Institute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China; 2Biopharmaceutical R&D Center of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qi XiangInstitute of Biomedicine and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-020-8556-3234Email [email protected]: Sensitive skin (SS) is easily irritated by various environmental stimuli, and epidemiological surveys surprisingly find that self-perceived SS is widespread worldwide.Objective: To investigate whether SS is linked to changes in the skin bacterial population using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.Patients and Methods: According to both the Huaxi SS Questionnaire and Lactic Acid Stimulation Test, 60 female volunteers in Guangzhou were classified into normal skin (NS) and SS groups. Skin barrier parameters were assessed by the CK skin tester. The DNA of the bacterial flora on the facial skin surface was extracted and was subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing.Results: The skin hydration was significantly lower in the SS group compared to the NS group (P =0.032). Based on 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) significantly decreased in the SS group (P =0.0235, SS vs NS). The relative abundance of Neisseriaceae in SS group decreased significantly (P < 0.05, SS vs NS), while that of Neisseria (within the Neisseriaceae family) increased significantly (P < 0.05, SS vs NS).Conclusion: SS is accompanied by a decrease in species diversity and richness, which may be relevant to the weakening of the microbial barrier (due to the increase of Neisseria or the decrease of Neisseriaceae). Thus, corresponding treatment for Neisseriaceae may be a new idea in the treatment of SS.Keywords: sensitive skin, 16S rRNA sequencing, bacterial, skin microbiome, skin barrier

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