Evolution of the Facial Skin Microbiome During Puberty in Normal and Acne Skin

Schneider et al. performed a cross-sectional pilot study in a paediatric population to understand how and when the skin microbiome composition transitions during puberty and whether a distinct ‘acne microbiome’ emerges in paediatric subjects.

• Forty-eight volunteers including males and females, ages 7–17 years, with and without acne were enrolled and evaluated for pubertal development using the Tanner staging criteria.
• Sebum levels were measured, and skin microbiota were collected by sterile swab on the subject’s forehead.
• DNA was sequenced by whole genome shotgun sequencing.

A significant shift in microbial diversity emerged between early and late stages of puberty, coinciding with increased sebum production on the face. The overall relative abundance of C. acnes in both normal and acne skin increased during puberty and individual C. acnes strains were uniquely affected by pubertal stage and the presence of acne. Further, an acne microbiome signature associated with unique C. acnes strain composition and metabolic activity emerges in late puberty in those with acne. This unique C. acnes strain composition is predicted to have increased porphyrin production, which may contribute to skin inflammation.