Prebiotic effect of galacto‐oligosaccharides on the skin microbiota and determination of their diffusion properties

Abstract Objective Recently, prebiotics are attracting plenty of attention in the field of skin care, since it is found that they are able to support the balance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms on the skin, and accordingly prevent several skin conditions associated with microbial imbalance. Topical application of prebiotics, although insufficiently investigated, holds great promise in improving skin health. The purpose of this research was to determine the prebiotic potential of galacto‐oligosaccharides (GOS) for skin microbiota and suitability for incorporation in different topical formulations, and finally, provide insights into their diffusion properties. Methods The prebiotic effect of GOS was evaluated through the influence on the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus , the most common resident and pathogenic bacterium of the skin microbiota, respectively. Also, with the future use of GOS in cosmetic products in mind, the diffusion of GOS molecules from two different topical formulations, hydrogel and oil‐in‐water (O/W) gel emulsion, was monitored employing Franz diffusion cell and two systems—with cellulose acetate membrane and transdermal diffusion test model, Strat‐M® membrane. Course of fermentation and the amount of diffused GOS molecules were monitored using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results The in vitro results revealed that GOS at a concentration of 5% (w/v) has a pronounced stimulatory effect on S. epidermidis, while simultaneously showing an inhibitory effect on S. aureus , both in nutrient broth and cosmetic formulations. GOS trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide diffusion coefficients from O/W gel emulsion were calculated to be 5.61·10 −6 cm 2 s −1 and 1.41·10 −8 cm 2 s −1 , respectively. The diffusion coefficient of GOS trisaccharides from hydrogel was 3.22·10 −6 cm 2 s −1 , while it was not determined for tetrasaccharides due to low diffused concentration. Transdermal diffusion tests revealed that GOS incorporated in two formulations stays at the surface of the skin even after 24 h. Conclusion When applied in adequate concentration, GOS has the potential to be used as a skin prebiotic. Novel GOS enriched formulations, Aristoflex® AVC‐based hydrogel and Heliogel™‐based O/W gel emulsion, provided efficient diffusion and delivery of prebiotic GOS molecules to the skin surface.