54122 MICROBIOME MARKERS OF SKIN AGING: TOWARDS NEW ANTI-AGING STRATEGIES

Skin aging is a multifactorial process that may lead to potential alterations in the skin ecology that affect the skin microbiome. Exposure to extrinsic factors such as air pollution also impacts the skin microbiome composition which may contribute to skin premature aging (1,2). It is established that the skin microbiome changes with chronological age; Cutibacterium acnes being the most affected bacteria (3,4). However, severity of specific aging signs ("apparent age) and skin surface quality (e.g texture, hydration, pH, sebum etc.) may not be indicative of chronological age. For example, older individuals can have young looking skin and young individuals can be of older apparent age. Here, we identified microbial signatures associated with skin aging signs, independently of chronological age, using a global analysis of 13 microbiome datasets paired with skin clinical data from the face. We show a negative relationship between microbiome diversity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and a positive association between microbiome diversity and age. We report a global positive association between microbiome diversity and Crow's feet wrinkles; and specific microbial taxa associated with wrinkles, TEWL and corneometer measures were identified. These findings represent a key step towards understanding the implication of the skin microbiome in skin aging signs and will guide future clinical skin aging microbiome studies and in vitro assays to develop next-generation cosmetic solutions for skin aging.