By Paul Lawrence, Ph.D., Brianna Scacchi and Joseph Ceccoli, Biocogent LLC, Stony Brook, NY | From: Biocogent, LLC

The paths of two different fields of research have begun to converge: the study of the skin microbiome, and bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics to combat bacterial pathogens. Several bacteria are natural residents on the human skin, some of which contribute to its health and others that can have deleterious effects. It is often when an imbalance in species occurs that undesirable skin conditions follow.

Naturally occurring bacteriophages that uniquely target specific bacterial species (see Table 1) present a tool that could be applied to modulate the growth of certain populations of bacteria—i.e., so-called phage therapy. For instance, Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) is understood to contribute to Acne vulgaris. A cluster of bacteriophages exists that only attacks and replicates inside of this particular bacterial species, which culminates in the destruction of the bacteria. Therefore, a topical formulation containing bacteriophages against C. acnes could represent a new skin care agent to combat acne. Similarly, this approach could be replicated with many other resident microbes on the skin that are responsible for a number of skin diseases and conditions.

This article offers a commentary in support of bacteriophages, or phages, in skin care therapeutics. It provides their brief evolutionary history, considers their utility as antimicrobial alternatives, and posits their application in modern skin care.

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