This interventional, prospective clinical study aims to investigate the effects of topical application of two facial creams-one placebo and one containing active postbiotics (from Bifidobacterium and Pediococcus genera)-on the skin microbiome and appearance in women with sensitive skin and high sun exposure. The study is conducted remotely over a 14-week period and involves self-collection of skin microbiome samples and headshot photographs using the Haut AI application.
The primary objective is to identify changes in the skin microbiome and visual skin characteristics following the use of a placebo cream (Product A) for 6 weeks and an active cream (Product B) for 8 weeks. Secondary objectives include exploring the temporal dynamics of the microbiome, assessing self-perceived effects of the products, and documenting changes in skin appearance.
Participants are 30 women aged 40 to 60, residing in mid to west coast regions of the United States, representing all ethnicities and Fitzpatrick skin types. Eligible participants must have self-assessed sensitive skin (SS10 \> 13), mild to moderate fine lines and wrinkles, and spend at least one hour outdoors under high sun exposure (10am-4pm) five times per week. They must be willing to replace their current skincare routine with the study regimen and maintain their lifestyle and diet throughout the study.
Exclusion criteria include prior use of the study products within the past three months, participation in similar studies within the last 30 days, active skin disorders, recent use of antibiotics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, or hormone treatments, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any medical conditions or procedures that could affect skin appearance. Participants must also demonstrate reliability and willingness to follow the study protocol.
The study design includes four microbiome sampling timepoints: after 2 weeks of placebo use (T0), at the end of the placebo phase (week 6, T1), after 4 weeks of active product use (week 10, T2), and at the end of the active phase (week 14, T3). At each timepoint, participants will collect a skin swab from the forehead and submit a headshot photo via the Haut AI app. A baseline photo is also collected before starting the regimen. They will also answer a questionnaire to assess the self-perceived evolution.
Each participant receives a study kit containing both products and four microbiome sampling kits. Participants will be instructed to apply 1 mL of product twice a day. Samples are returned to HelloBiome or directly to the lab for sequencing. Microbiome analysis is performed using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing to detect bacterial and fungal communities. Data are processed and analyzed by HelloBiome using bioinformatics tools to assess microbial load, diversity, and composition.
Statistical analysis includes parametric and non-parametric tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon signed-rank) and PERMANOVA for microbiome compositional data. Samples not meeting quality thresholds may be excluded from final analysis.
Data management ensures participant confidentiality through anonymization and secure storage on specific servers. Safety will be evaluated through the documentation of all adverse events.
