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Skin Microbiota Diversity Is Associated with Biophysical Properties Across Healthy Human Skin Types
Ryosuke Kadoya1, Ayano Kondo1, Ayaka Matsukawa1
1Department of Food and Nutrition, School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, 17-3 Hoshigaoka motomachi, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8662, Aichi, Japan.
Microorganisms
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Healthy skin types show distinct microbial communities. Normal skin has higher microbial diversity, linked to moisture, while sebum impacts diversity. These findings link skin properties to its microbiome.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- The skin microbiota is crucial for skin health.
- Differences in the skin microbiome across various skin types in healthy individuals are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between skin microbiota diversity and different skin types (normal, oily, dry, combination) in healthy women.
- To explore correlations between skin biophysical properties (sebum and moisture) and skin microbial composition.
Main Methods:
- Collected skin samples from the nasal region of 43 healthy young women.
- Quantitatively measured skin moisture and sebum levels.
- Analyzed skin microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (V3-V4 regions).
Main Results:
- Normal skin exhibited significantly higher alpha diversity (Chao1 richness, Faith's phylogenetic diversity) compared to other skin types.
- Skin moisture positively correlated with microbial richness, while sebum levels negatively correlated with phylogenetic diversity.
- Beta diversity analysis indicated distinct microbial community structures in normal skin, with specific bacterial genera enriched. Enterobacterales were more abundant in non-normal skin types.
Conclusions:
- Skin biophysical properties, such as moisture and sebum levels, are associated with the structure and diversity of the skin microbiota in healthy individuals.
- The study highlights specific microbial differences linked to normal versus non-normal skin types.
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