L’Oréal studies microbiomes

French cosmetics giant L’Oréal has announced it has been studying the human microbiome and that its findings could result in future cosmetic and dermatological applications.

The microbiome is the totality of the microbes that inhabit a person’s body and is responsible for controlling and regulating health.

In a presentation at its Aulnay-sous-Bois site outside Paris, the company revealed that it has been working with the Paris based Institute Pasteur and New York University on the microbiome of the skin, looking at, for example, the microflora of healthy and greasy skin.

It has been known for some time that the skin’s microflora can fight bacteria and infection, and that it might be possible to not only destroy bad bacteria but actively add ‘good’ bacteria to skin creams in order to fight skin conditions such as acne.