The emerging utility of the cutaneous microbiome in the treatment of acne and atopic dermatitis.

The cutaneous microbiome has potential for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory-driven skin disease. Research into atopic dermatitis and acne vulgaris has highlighted the importance of the skin microbiota in disease pathogenesis, prognostication, and targets for therapeutic intervention. Current management of these conditions aims to control the inflammatory response thought to be associated with specific pathogens using both topical and systemic antimicrobials. However, commensal microbiota found naturally on the skin have been shown to play an important role in the resolution of disease flares. Although often efficacious, the mainstay treatments are not without adverse effects and raise concerns regarding the development of antimicrobial resistance. Augmentation of microbial communities with targeted biotherapy could revolutionize the way inflammatory conditions of the skin are treated. Herein, we review evidence for the role of the cutaneous microbiome in atopic dermatitis and acne vulgaris and suggest that these conditions highlight the potential for microbiome-directed therapeutics.