Shiseido Discovers through Microbiome Research that Sensitive Skin Contains High Levels of Specific Strain of Cutibacterium acnes which inhibits Staphylococcus epidermidis

Shiseido, in collaboration with Professor Seiya Imoto and Project Professor Satoshi Uematsu at the Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, has discovered that sensitive skin contains high levels of a specific strain of Cutibacterium acnes hereafter referred to as “inhibitory bacteria” that inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis essential for healthy skin. This discovery was made by applying the whole-genome shotgun analysis, a method which greatly improves the range and resolution of microbiome analysis compared to commonly used methods. Shiseido then identified a fermented extract derived from microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme environments hereafter referred to as “microbial extract” through Shiseido’s unique screening process* as a component that selectively suppresses the inhibitory bacteria and creates a favorable growth environment for Staphylococcus epidermidis (Figure 1). Shiseido will continue to explore and uncover the causes of skin sensitivity to create new skincare solutions.
A part of the results from this study was presented at the 97th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Bacteriology held from August 7 through 9, 2024.
* Patent pending

Figure 1: Sensitive skin contains high levels of inhibitory bacteria and the microbial extract selectively suppresses these inhibitory bacteria

Figure 1

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Research Background

Shiseido has been conducting research on sensitive skin for over fifty years by leveraging its unique technology to investigate the inside of the skin, the state of the body and mind, and their mutual interactions. By exploring the root causes of diverse sensitive skin conditions, Shiseido aims to reduce the stress and anxiety experienced by consumers and help them attain their unique ideal skin. To this end, the microbiome** research was also conducted focusing on the balance between the two major bacterial genera in the facial skin microbiome: Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The ratio of S. epidermidis to C. acnes was found to be lower in sensitive skin than in non-sensitive skin.*** Accordingly, a prebiotic ingredient**** that supports the growth of S. epidermidis was developed to correct the imbalance of skin microbiome in sensitive skin.
In this study, Shiseido has further investigated the cause of microbiome imbalance in sensitive skin in the pursuit of a whole new approach to address sensitive skin issues.
** Microbiome: A group of microorganisms living in a certain environment
*** Shiseido Discovers Sensitive Skin is Low in Skin Microbiome Diversity (2020)
https://corp.shiseido.com/en/news/detail.html?n=00000000002960
**** Prebiotic ingredients: A combination of ingredients including Saccharomyces extract. While it is expected to increase beneficial bacteria that have beneficial effects on the skin, it does not affect the growth of harmful bacteria.

Sensitive Skin Contains Many Inhibitory Bacteria

Upon clearly pinpointing the cause of the imbalance between C. acnes and S. epidermidis in sensitive skin, the “whole-genome shotgun analysis” method was employed for the first time to decode all gene sequences of the skin microbiome. The analysis revealed that sensitive skin contains a higher proportion of a gene that encodes a unique antimicrobial peptide that serves to suppress S. epidermidis (Figure 2). Furthermore, this gene is carried only by the specific strain of C. acnes (inhibitory bacteria), and when the effects of inhibitory bacteria and non-inhibitory bacteria (C. acnes not carrying the above-mentioned antimicrobial peptide gene) on the growth of S. epidermidis were compared, the results confirmed that the inhibitory bacteria suppressed the growth of S. epidermidis (Figure 3).

Figure 2: Inhibitory bacteria are abundant in sensitive skin
Figure 3: Inhibitory bacteria suppress growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Figure 2

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Figure 3

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Discovery of Microbial Extract that Suppresses Only Inhibitory Bacteria

Based on the aforementioned findings, Shiseido screened various candidates using a unique method to find an extract that selectively suppresses the inhibitory bacteria abundant in sensitive skin and discovered the microbial extract. This extract suppresses the inhibitory bacteria without inhibiting the growth of other C.acnes essential for the skin (Figure 4), thus creating a favorable environment for the propagation of S. epidermidis and adjusting the skin microbiome balance. Furthermore, the microbial extract was confirmed to have no effect on the action of the previously identified prebiotic ingredient that promotes the growth of S. epidermidis.

Figure 4: Microbial extract selectively suppresses the inhibitory bacteria

Figure 4

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Shiseido this time has developed a comprehensive approach to balance the skin microbiome in sensitive skin with a newly discovered ingredient that removes the cause of imbalances. This discovery is expected to lead to future skin care solutions that will effectively maintain healthy skin.