Sensitive Skin Improvement Through Bioinformatics-Identified Cosmetic Ingredients That Regulate Transcriptome-Derived Biomarkers.

Sensitive skin is characterized by hypersensitivity to normal stimuli, and objective diagnostic tools and treatments are still limited. Currently, cosmetics for sensitive skin are developed through the exclusion of known irritants rather than investigation into the underlying mechanisms of sensitivity. In this study, we developed an integrated pipeline combining transcriptome analysis via microneedle-based skin sampling (MISSM), bioinformatics, in vitro validation, and clinical assessment to identify sensitive skin-associated inflammatory biomarkers and cosmetic ingredients that regulate them. Candidate biomarkers and matched cosmetic ingredients were identified from transcriptomic data and validated in lactic acid-stimulated HaCaT and human dermal fibroblasts via qRT-PCR. A prototype emulsion was developed and evaluated in a 4-week open-label pilot clinical trial with longitudinal molecular monitoring via MISSM. After lactic acid stimulation, sensitive skin-associated biomarkers (MCOLN1, CYR61, PMAIP1, PTGS2, and HMGB2) were significantly upregulated in both cell types, and cosmetic ingredients that regulate these biomarkers were confirmed in vitro. The emulsion prototype demonstrated hypoallergenicity in a primary irritation test. In the pilot clinical trial, target biomarker expression was significantly reduced in MISSM-derived samples, with improvements in skin hydration, barrier function, redness, and sensory reactivity also observed. This integrated pipeline will enable the discovery of inflammatory biomarker-regulating cosmetic ingredients, with potential applicability to various inflammatory skin conditions.