Our skin may be partly responsible for how happy we feel, a clinical study has found. Dermatologists discovered that higher levels of the skin bacterium Cutibacterium were closely associated with improved mood and lower stress levels. The results were most obvious when the skin swabs came from the face or underarm.
Cutibacterium is a beneficial, naturally occurring microbe that lives on healthy human skin and prevented harmful bacteria from taking over. The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, involved 53 volunteers who provided swabs from their face, scalp, forearm and underarm. They also filled out surveys measuring stress, sleep quality and mood.
Researchers found a clear link between Cutibacterium levels and improved mental wellbeing. On the face, a higher abundance of Cutibacterium was associated with significantly lower levels of perceived stress. On the underarm, the bacteria was linked not only to lower stress but also to improvements in mood, including increased feelings of happiness and reduced tension.
The results support the theory of a “skin-brain axis”, which suggests our skin and mental state may influence each other. The study was carried out by scientists from Unilever in collaboration with the Microbiome Innovation Centre and the Brain and Behaviour Laboratory at the University of Liverpool. They used advanced genetic tools to analyse the types and levels of bacteria present.
Jason Harcup, from Unilever, said: “The skin-brain axis refers to the fact our skin and psychological wellbeing are connected. Research has shown that bacteria in the gut can affect psychological wellbeing but the role of skin bacteria has been less understood until now.”
Researchers say the findings could help develop skin-care products that support both mental and skin health. Unilever has collected more than 30,000 skin microbiome samples and holds more than 100 related patents to support its research over the years. This study was supported through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with UK Research and Innovation.
