Bateriophages, or phages, have been studied for over a century and are considered safe. 1, 2
Phages are natural predators of bacteria and are highly selective in their targeting. Once their host target is eliminated, phages naturally biodegrade. 2
Studies link acne-free skin to the abundance of C. acnes phages and the presence of acne lesions is associated with fewer phages. 3
The widespread adoption of antibiotics contributed to the decline in interest and broad awareness of phages.
However, the rise of antibiotic resistance has contributed to a resurgence in the therapeutic applications of phages.
Research continues to demonstrate a correlation between lower skin microbiome diversity and inflammatory skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. We welcome you to explore some of the published literature.
Phages are a safe, natural treatment to change the microbiota for the better and without compromising the skin barrier. 4
References: 1. Natarelli, N.; Gahoonia, N.; Sivamani, R.K. Bacteriophages and the Microbiome in Dermatology: The Role of the Phageome and a Potential Therapeutic Strategy. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 2695. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms24032695. 2. Ly-Chatain MH (2014) The factors affecting effectiveness of treatment in phages therapy. Front. Microbiol. 5:51. doi: 0.3389/fmicb.2014.00051. 3. Barnard, E. et al. The balance of metagenomic elements shapes the skin microbiome in acne and health. Sci. Rep. 6, 39491; doi: 10.1038/srep39491 (2016). 4. Golembo M, Puttagunta S, Rappo U, Weinstock E, Engelstein R, Gahali-Sass I, et al. Development of a topical bacteriophage gel targeting Cutibacterium acnes for acne prone skin and results of a phase 1 cosmetic randomized clinical trial. Skin Health Dis. 2022;2(2):e93. ttps://doi.org/10.102/ski2.93.
