Comparison of Healthy and Dandruff Scalp Microbiome Reveals the Role of Commensals in Scalp Health
October 2018
in “
Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
”
Propionibacterium acnes Staphylococcus epidermidis Malassezia species scalp microbiome dandruff cell-host adhesion amino acids biotin B-vitamins hair growth bacterial commensals scalp nutrient balance P. acnes S. epidermidis Malassezia scalp bacteria scalp fungi dandruff bacteria dandruff fungi hair vitamins
TLDR Certain bacteria and fungi are linked to healthy scalps and dandruff, suggesting that the scalp's microbial balance affects its health.
In a study involving 140 Indian women, researchers investigated the bacterial and fungal diversity of the scalp microbiome to understand its role in scalp health and dandruff. They found that Propionibacterium acnes was associated with a healthy scalp, while Staphylococcus epidermidis was linked to dandruff. Additionally, a high association of dandruff with uncharacterized Malassezia species was noted. Functional analysis revealed that the dandruff scalp microbiome had an enrichment of pathways related to cell-host adhesion, whereas the healthy scalp microbiome was enriched in pathways involved in the synthesis and metabolism of amino acids, biotin, and other B-vitamins, which are crucial for hair growth. Clinical and physiological measurements of the scalp showed significant correlations with the microbiome and their functions, suggesting that bacterial commensals might play a role in maintaining scalp nutrient balance. This study provides new insights into the potential role of the scalp microbiome in the pathophysiology of dandruff.
