LAUSR

The term “probiotic” was popularised more than 20 years ago,1 and more recently defined as “living microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health effect on the host.”2 Traditionally, probiotics are shown to be beneficial in numerous inflammatory and allergic, mostly gastrointestinal, diseases.3 However, orally consumed probiotics were also found to improve conditions of other organs, skin includeds1,s2,4 Importantly, recent intriguing data suggest that microorganismbased topical formulations are also effective in various skin conditions. Indeed, locally applied living Lactobacillus plantarum suppressed inflammation and accelerated wound healing in patients with chronic infected leg ulcers.5 Topical formulation containing nonpathogenic Gramnegative bacterium Vitreoscilla filiformis lysates improved symptoms and promoted the repair of the skin barrier in atopic dermatitis patients.6 Of further importance, a specific Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) extract from CLR Richter laboratories (Berlin, Germany), when applied as a cream to volunteers with reactive skin, decreased cutaneous sensitivity, increased skin resistance, and decreased skin dryness.7 In addition, this B. longum extract inhibited neuropeptideinduced inflammatory cutaneous response in organcultured human skin and inhibited the release of neuropeptides from capsaicinstimulated cultured sensory neurons.7