Probiotics have been widely used for the treatment/prevention of
gastrointestinal disorders, but a growing number of clinical studies
suggest that probiotic strategies induce systemic effects which
extend beyond the gut and may even affect selected functions of
the skin [7]. Accordingly, modulation of the gut’s microflora
through probiotics appears to cause beneficial effects in healthy as
well as diseased human skin [8,9].
This article briefly summarizes the scientific basis for such
strategies and provides a critical overview about the currently
available studies on the use of pre- and/or probiotica in clinical
dermatology and cosmetics.