Volume 30, Issue 173, July 2026

The skin microbiome in health and disease – new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives

Natalia Sałkowska^1♦, Izabela Ochońska¹, Oliwia Borowska², Jakub Magdziak², Sara Awad², Eliza Mędrek³, Natalia Brzozowska³, Barbara Wardzyńska⁴, Paulina Zegarska⁵, Hanna Markowska⁶

¹University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw, address Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
²Independent Public Clinical Hospital named after prof. W. Orłowski CMKP, Czerniakowska 231, 00-416 Warsaw, Poland
³Nowodworskie Centrum Medyczne, address Miodowa 2, 05-100 Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland
⁴Independent Public Healthcare Complex in Wyszków, address Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 1, 07-200 Wyszków, Poland
⁵Grochowski Hospital, address Grenadierów 51/59, 04-073 Warsaw, Poland
⁶Samodzielny Publiczny Wielospecjalistyczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej Ministerstwa Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji w Bydgoszczy, address ul. Ks. R. Markwarta 4-6, 85-015 Bydgoszcz, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Natalia Sałkowska, University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw, address Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

The skin microbiome is made up of a complex and ever-changing community of microbes. It recreates a key role in maintaining healthy skin. Problems in this ecosystem, known as dysbiosis, have been linked to a range of inflammatory skin diseases. This review looks at the latest research on the skin microbiome, how it works and its connection to the gut microbiome via the gut-skin axis. It also covers new ways to diagnose and treat it. Results: Healthy skin has certain microbial communities that are specific to the area. These communities are made up of bacteria like Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium. These bacteria help to keep the skin healthy by strengthening the skin's natural defenses and controlling the immune system. Dysbiosis (a problem with the balance of gut bacteria) can make inflammation and skin problems worse. Thanks to improvements in metagenomic and multi-omics technologies, as well as machine algorithms, we can now identify microbes more accurately and spot disease earlier. The gut-skin axis is very important for the development of skin disease and for how well patients respond to treatment. So, to sum things up: The skin microbiome is very important for keeping your skin healthy, and if it doesn't work right, it can lead to skin problems like inflammation. Combining advanced microbial profiling with host-microbe interactions enables personalized diagnostics and targeted therapies. Future longitudinal studies using standardized methodologies are needed to establish causality.

Keywords: Skin microbiome, Gut-skin axis, Dysbiosis, Inflammatory skin diseases, Microbiome diagnostics, Probiotics, Microbiome therapeutics, Personalized dermatology, Metagenomics, Immune modulation

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e138ms3878

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i173.e138ms3878

Published: 30 July 2026