Skin deep: Microbiome research finds new treatments for acne and eczema

A UCC-based researcher is exploring the link between the skin microbiome and gut to find new treatments for chronic skin conditions such as eczema and acne

Dr Julie O'Sullivan, a researcher at the UCC's APC centre with her area of interest is the gut-skin microbiome. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the role that the gut plays in our overall health and the importance of the microorganisms that reside there. Known as the microbiome, this collection of bacteria, viruses and fungi all work together to help us to stay healthy. However, the microbiome is not only found in the intestines but also on our largest organ — the skin. It serves as a shield against all kinds of external factors, including sun damage and pollution, and any imbalance can result in inflammation.

Dr Julie O’Sullivan is a post-doctoral researcher at APC Microbiome Ireland, an SFI-funded research centre based at UCC and Teagasc, Moorepark, which has been at the forefront of research on the gut microbiome. She is exploring the link between the skin microbiome and its connection with the gut, known as the gut-skin axis, and its effects on skin conditions such as eczema and acne. Her work centres on antimicrobial-producing proteins, also known as bacteriocins, which are found within the human skin microbiome.