Present in some food supplements, in your yogurts or in your intimate washing gels, probiotics are now found in day creams, night creams and facial cleansing.

But what are they ? How do they act? What are their interests ? We tell you everything !  

Reminder on the skin flora

Our skin has been covered with bacteria, fungi and viruses since we were born. They live in symbiosis with our body and each have a specific environment. It is determined by the Ph, light, temperature, sebum and hydration level of our skin. Due to the specific characteristics of pigmented skin, we assume that black, matte and mixed skin would have a denser skin flora than in Caucasian skin.

What is the role of the skin flora?

It is essential for the proper functioning of our skin since its main mission is to protect it from various external aggressions.

It protects us:

-          Bacteria, viruses and fungi present in the environment.

Responsible for various pathologies such as acne, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, our flora will aim to prevent their fixation and penetration on the skin.   To do this, it will completely cover our skin (more than 1 million bacteria per cm² of skin) and consume all the nutrients present.

Unfortunately in case of dysbiosis (imbalance of the flora), it is possible that this flora manages to penetrate it. To limit the risk of contamination, our flora will either secrete bactericidal molecules to eliminate them on their own or activate our immune system to trigger an inflammatory (indirect) reaction.

-          Sun, pollution, tobacco etc.

In contact with the skin, these different external aggressions create free radicals. They are oxidative molecules that disrupt and destroy certain constituents of our skin. Thus they generate hyperpigmentation spots for example or accelerate the aging of the skin. Thanks to its anti-oxidative action, the skin flora therefore limits these harmful effects in order to help the skin to be better preserved over time.

In addition, it participates in the regeneration of the skin by also feeding on the dead cells present on the surface of the skin.  

What types of aggression can she face?

There are different types of aggression:

-    The internals, on which we can not act. There is our genetics, our gender and our age. For example, our flora will be denser during puberty and weaker as we age. It will also be more so in men because of their hair and their often oilier skin type than in women.

-    The external, on which their influences are more or less controllable such as the sun, pollution or cigarette smoke for example. However, we will be able to act on the choice of our cosmetic treatments. For example : the use of too aggressive scrubs, washing treatments that do not respect the skin pH, creams not adapted to the characteristics of our face. All this alters and weakens the skin flora.

Does hydroalcoholic gel deteriorate the skin flora?

In this period of crisis when barrier gestures are essential for our safety we remind you that these gels are to be used wisely. They should be applied when hand washing is not possible.

It is true that too frequent use of these gels leads to dry skin in our hands. This is caused by the presence of alcohol which is why now we find very often in their compositions glycerin for its restorative and softening effect. In addition, the purpose of these gels is to disinfect our hands. They therefore do not distinguish between our skin flora and all the surrounding pathogens.  

Thus we can affirm that repeated long-term use of these gels deteriorates the skin flora because it disturbs the specific environment of our bacteria and eliminates them.

How to take care of our skin flora ?

Start by avoiding anything that could be nests for bacteria. Wash your brushes regularly, change your bed sheets every two weeks for example. It is also essential that you protect your skin from the sun with a suitable sunscreen. Indeed, the sun does not only alter your flora, it is also the first cause of appearance of hyperpigmentation spots and a key factor in the appearance of pimples.

However, to protect your flora, your mission will be to take care of your skin while respecting it. It will therefore be necessary to be more attentive to the choices of your cosmetic treatments. Know that the INOYA Laboratory has for each of its selected treatments active ingredients and preservatives that respect the products, the sensitivity of your skin, its skin flora and your health ! Our priority is to offer you personalized support in order to offer you products that correspond to your skin characteristic.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live or inactivated bacteria that are incorporated into a tablet, an egg or cosmetic care to be able to boost the effectiveness of the flora to which they are addressed.

There are also :

-    Pre-biotics are nutrients. They aim to stimulate the growth of microorganisms present in the flora.

-    Post-biotics are molecules produced by flora. They contribute to the good environmental balance of microorganisms.

The fact of adding these elements to probiotics complete their actions and make them even more efficient which is why they are most often found in combination of probiotics / post-biotics or probiotics / pre-biotics

Probiotics: The future of future cosmetic care

It is only recently that many cosmetology laboratories have decided to focus their research on skin flora. Before that, all of them were focused on the different skin cells or fibers. Now a new field of research has opened up: that of cohabitation between cells and bacteria.

It is therefore necessary to identify the microorganisms present in our flora, understand their implications in the proper functioning of the skin and discern how via cosmetics we can positively influence their presence and actions.

The ultimate goal is therefore to respect but also pamper each element constituting our skin. Hence the addition of probiotics, pre-biotics and post-biotics in cosmetic care. They will strengthen the skin flora, boost it and therefore participate in the protection and regeneration of the skin.

Thus, these new active ingredients become key ingredients in the formulation of tomorrow's cosmetic treatments. It is already found in some day or night creams, in treatments or in face and body cleansers.

How to recognize their presence?

The answer can be found in the list of ingredients of your treatment. But with all these names of molecules it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly what we are looking for.

The probiotics most often found are bifidus or lactobacillus bacteria. Regarding pre-biotics, there are several choices: it can be sugar for example. You will find them under the name of glucose or fructose. As for post-biotics, the most used is lactic acid.

Know that all these three types of assets are present in the composition of "My Repairing Regenerating Elixir".

Thanks to them, your skin flora will be more balanced and therefore your skin will be in great shape ! Less attacked, less inflamed and healthier, it will regenerate much faster. It will therefore be denser, firmer and more elastic. Thus, we can even say that your skin will age less quickly!