Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in skincare: what they are and why they're good for your skin
In recent years, terms like skin probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics have strongly entered the skincare lexicon. They are not just trends, but the protagonists of a new generation of formulations that focus on the balance of the skin microbiome, which is the set of “good” microorganisms that populate the surface of our skin and ensure its well-being.
The skin is not just a covering: it is an active and intelligent organ, capable of communicating, defending itself, and regenerating. But like any ecosystem, it needs balance to function at its best. That's why the most advanced cosmetics are moving towards ingredients that do not alter the natural balance of the skin, but nourish, protect, and strengthen it.
This is where prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics come into play: three keywords (and three different functions) that work in synergy to strengthen the skin's defenses, improve treatment tolerability, and restore radiance and well-being even to the most sensitive or reactive skin.
In this article, we will explore:
- What the skin microbiota is and why it is fundamental for skin health;
- The differences between prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, and how they work;
- The concrete benefits of these active ingredients for skin well-being;
- The role of prebiotics and postbiotics in Terme di Comano products and how to integrate them into daily skincare;
- The experts' answers to the most frequently asked questions on the topic.
Table of Contents
What is skin microbiota?
Our skin is never alone. At any given moment, billions of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) live on its surface, creating a true ecosystem: the skin microbiota.
Even though the term "bacteria" might suggest something harmful, the microbiota is actually an active and valuable barrier for our health: it protects the skin from pathogens, regulates inflammatory processes, and contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system.
Just like the gut, each person has a unique microbiota, which adapts based on lifestyle, environment, and body area. More humid areas (like armpits or skin folds) host different species compared to dry or sebum-rich areas, such as the forehead and back.
When this balance is disrupted by stress, the use of aggressive cosmetics, hormonal changes, or exposure to external factors, the skin can become more sensitive, inflamed, acne-prone, or susceptible to dermatitis. This is why there is increasing talk about the importance of caring for the skin microbiota through targeted skincare and intelligent formulations.
The first step? Understanding the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, and learning how to integrate them into your daily beauty routine.
What are prebiotics?
When it comes to microbiota balance, prebiotics play a central role. Unlike probiotics, they are not living microorganisms, but rather functional substances that nourish and support the "good" bacteria already present on the skin. We can imagine them as the fertile ground that allows the skin microbiota to grow in a healthy, stable, and protective way.
In scientific terms, prebiotics are non-living compounds (often fibers or complex sugars) capable of favorably modulating the microbiota, stimulating the proliferation of beneficial species and indirectly counteracting the growth of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This definition originated in the nutritional and intestinal fields, but today it also finds perfect application in advanced dermatological cosmetics.
Applied to the skin, prebiotics do not act directly on the epidermis but work deeply on the ecosystem that protects it. They strengthen the barrier function, improve the skin's ability to defend itself from external aggressions, and help reduce inflammation, sensitivity, and skin imbalances. Skin with a well-nourished microbiota is more resilient, less reactive, and visibly healthier.
Another fundamental aspect is selectivity: prebiotics primarily promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, leaving less room for those responsible for imperfections, redness, or inflammation. It is precisely this mechanism that makes prebiotics particularly suitable for skincare routines dedicated to sensitive, acne-prone, stressed, or mature skin.
In cosmetics, the most commonly used prebiotics often derive from complex sugars and functional fibers, chosen for their safety, tolerability, and documented efficacy. Included in well-balanced formulations, they become valuable allies for restoring the harmony of the skin microbiota without altering the delicate physiological balance of the skin.
In other words, if probiotics are the "inhabitants" of the skin, prebiotics are what allow them to thrive. And this is where truly evolved skincare originates: not aggressive, not compensatory, but intelligent and respectful of the skin ecosystem.
Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics: differences and roles in skin health
Often used together, the terms prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics are not synonyms but represent three distinct and complementary elements in maintaining the balance of the microbiota, both intestinal and cutaneous.
Probiotics are "good bacteria," meaning live microorganisms that populate our bodies and perform protective and regulatory functions. Taken orally or applied topically through specific cosmetics, they help strengthen the skin barrier, prevent inflammation, and visibly improve skin health.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non-digestible substances (such as certain fibers or complex sugars) that serve as nourishment for probiotics. They do not contain live microorganisms but promote the growth and activity of those already present on our body, thus contributing to the stability and well-being of the microbiome. Think of them as the "fuel" needed for good bacteria to thrive.
Postbiotics are bioactive compounds (such as fatty acids, enzymes, peptides) produced by probiotics during fermentation, or inanimate microorganisms (bacteria) and their fragments that confer health benefits to the host. They have direct beneficial effects on the skin: they improve hydration, combat inflammation, and provide a protective action against pathogens. Many fermented extracts and bacterial lysates used in cosmetics fall into this category.
Integrating prebiotics and postbiotics into daily skincare is now considered one of the most effective approaches to rebalance the skin's microbial flora, especially in cases of sensitive, dehydrated, acne-prone, or reactive skin. Their combined action helps strengthen the skin's natural defenses, making it healthier, more radiant, and resistant to external aggressions.
The benefits of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics for the skin
Skin health doesn't just depend on what we apply to the surface, but on a deep and often invisible balance: that of the skin microbiome. This is where prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics come into play, three different but complementary allies that work in synergy to support the skin's natural functions in a physiological and respectful way.
Prebiotics play a fundamental foundational role: they do not introduce new microorganisms but selectively nourish the beneficial ones already present on the skin. In doing so, they help create an environment conducive to the balance of the microbiome, strengthening the skin barrier and improving the skin's ability to defend itself against external aggressions. A "well-nourished" skin at the microbial level is more stable, less reactive, and more resistant to stressors such as smog, temperature fluctuations, and UV rays.
Alongside prebiotics, probiotics contribute to skin well-being by promoting the rebalancing of the microbial flora through mechanisms of competition with potentially harmful microorganisms. Their support is particularly useful in conditions of imbalance, when the skin appears more fragile, dull, or prone to impurities, redness, and inflammation.
An equally important role is played by postbiotics, which are bioactive substances and cellular components derived from the activity of beneficial bacteria. In cosmetics, these active ingredients are appreciated for their ability to act specifically on inflammation, sensitivity, and barrier function.
The combined action of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics translates into concrete and visible benefits: a stronger skin barrier, improved hydration, reduced redness and sensitivity, a more balanced microbiome, and skin that progressively appears more even, luminous, and vital. It's not about "correcting" the skin, but about helping it to function better, respecting its natural mechanisms.
The result is skincare that does not work against the skin, but with the skin, guiding it towards a state of lasting balance and authentic well-being.
Prebiotics and postbiotics in Terme di Comano's skincare line: the balance that makes a difference
Terme di Comano's skincare line stems from an evolved vision of skin care: not intervening against its nature, but supporting it from within, respecting and strengthening the balance of the skin microbiota. This is why the formulations integrate prebiotics and postbiotics, two complementary approaches that act in synergy to improve skin health and resilience.
Prebiotics selectively nourish the beneficial microorganisms already present on the skin, promoting stability, hydration and barrier function. Postbiotics, such as bacterial lysates, on the other hand, provide bioactive substances capable of modulating inflammation, supporting skin regeneration processes and improving the skin's response to external stressors.
The result is a dermocompatible and scientifically advanced skincare that works with the skin, not on the skin, guiding it towards a state of lasting well-being even in the presence of sensitivity, environmental stress or alterations in skin balance.
The Role of Prebiotics in Terme di Comano's Skincare Line
In the field of modern cosmetics, prebiotics have taken on an increasingly central role: they are not just ingredients, but functional elements that nourish the skin microbiota, promoting the proliferation of “good” bacteria and helping to maintain the skin’s natural balance. Incorporated into daily face and body routines, they help strengthen the barrier function, improve hydration, and make the skin more resistant to external aggressions.
Terme di Comano has made this approach one of the pillars of its cosmetic line, Aqua+Tech, where the Prebiotic System (a complex of gluco-oligosaccharides derived from natural sugars) is combined with the unique virtues of Comano Thermal Water to support the balance of the skin microbiota and strengthen the skin's natural defenses.
This technology is applied in formulations designed to meet the needs of all skin types.
In facial treatments, the Prebiotic System is present in moisturizers, serums, and anti-aging treatments, where it works in synergy with Comano Thermal Water and functional active ingredients to improve texture, elasticity, and tone, supporting the skin both superficially and deeply with a rebalancing and regenerating action.
Also in body products, such as the Silk&Tone Body Cream, prebiotics play a fundamental role: associated with soothing thermal water and nourishing plant-derived ingredients like avocado seeds and shea butter, they help keep the skin soft, elastic, and visibly firmer. Clinical tests show a significant increase in hydration, elasticity, and firmness with constant use.
The Prebiotic System is also integrated into complementary lines for hands, feet, and cleansing, to extend the benefits of microbial balance to the most delicate areas or those most exposed to daily stress. In every formulation, the goal is not only immediate cosmetic efficacy but a sustainable approach to skin wellness over time, respecting the skin's biology and supporting its physiological function.
A diet rich in fruit, fresh vegetables, healthy fats, and colorful foods is already a decisive step towards keeping free radical levels under control.
When antioxidants are not enough, oxidative stress accelerates many degenerative processes:
- premature skin aging
- chronic inflammation
- weakening of the immune system
- cellular damage and DNA alteration
Postbiotics and scientific innovation: LYSACOM BIOME®
In addition to prebiotics, Terme di Comano research has led to the development of LYSACOM BIOME®, a bacterial lysate patented in Italy and exclusively owned by Terme di Comano, considered in all respects a new-generation postbiotic.
LYSACOM BIOME® is the result of over ten years of research on Comano Thermal Water and the key microorganism of its microbiota, Mesorhizobium comanense. Through an advanced scientific process, this microorganism is transformed into a bacterial lysate with proven efficacy, characterized by anti-inflammatory and soothing properties particularly suitable for fragile, sensitive, or pathologically prone skin.
Studies on the use of lysates in dermatology have demonstrated their ability to promote skin regeneration and restore barrier function. Based on this scientific evidence, Lysacom Biome® was developed in collaboration with the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrated Biology (CIBIO) at the University of Trento, subjected to rigorous safety and efficacy tests, and subsequently produced on an industrial scale for inclusion in advanced cosmetic formulations.
In vitro tests on human keratinocytes have shown that Lysacom Biome® is effective in protecting the skin from damage caused by inflammation, in reducing levels of skin inflammation, and is active even at low concentrations, confirming its high functional profile.
This exclusive postbiotic is currently found in key products within the Terme di Comano Skincare line, such as PSOBALANCE PRO – Soothing Moisturizing Cream, formulated for psoriasis-prone skin, and D.A. BALANCE PRO – Soothing Emollient Cream, indicated as a cosmetic adjuvant in the treatment of sensitive and atopic skin. These will be joined by LONGEVITY PRO, launching in February 2026, an advanced formula designed to combat blemishes associated with inflammaging and support skin regeneration.
Opinions of Terme di Comano experts: answers to the most frequently asked questions
Today, more than half of the world's population lives with "overreactive" skin: it stings, burns, and feels tight. This hypersensitivity is often linked to an imbalance in the skin microbiota, which is the community of microorganisms that naturally live on our skin and regulate its balance. When the microbiome is altered (due to stress, pollution, aggressive cosmetics, or environmental factors), the skin barrier weakens, leading to dehydration, redness, inflammation, and premature aging.
How do prebiotic treatments work in these cases? Prebiotics are not "strong" or invasive active ingredients, but intelligent nutrients: they feed the "good" bacteria, helping them restore the skin's natural balance. In combination with ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide, and thermal water, they help to:
● strengthen the hydrolipidic barrier,
● soothe sensitive skin,
● reduce redness, itching, stinging,
● prevent acne, dryness, and dullness.
Terme di Comano Skincare has developed a line specifically for sensitive skin, with formulas containing Prebiotic System and LYSACOM BIOME™, a patented biotech active ingredient derived from Mesorhizobium Comanense, a unique microorganism from Comano thermal water. A synergy between nature and technology for more protected and vital skin, day after day.
What does prebiotic cream mean? It is a cream that contains ingredients capable of selectively nourishing the good bacteria on the skin, helping to restore the balance of the skin microbiome.
What is the best prebiotic for the skin? Gluco-oligosaccharide is one of the most studied and effective prebiotics, present in the Prebiotic System of Comano products, often combined with thermal water for an enhanced soothing effect.
How to restore the skin microbiome? With a skincare routine that avoids aggressive agents and favors hydrating, soothing, and prebiotic formulas. Daily use of serums and creams based on prebiotics supports the skin flora in returning to balance.
What skin types benefit from prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic products? All of them. In particular: sensitive, reactive, reddened skin, with acne-prone or dry skin. But also normal skin that wants to prevent damage from oxidative stress or aging.
Do prebiotic treatments also help stressed skin from pollution or UV rays? Yes. Prebiotics make the skin more resilient, supporting its natural defenses against daily aggressions.
Is it true that lifestyle influences the skin microbiome? Yes. Stress, diet, smoking, climate, and cosmetic routine have a direct impact on our skin ecosystem. Prebiotic treatments can help compensate for these imbalances.
Is the microbiome the same for everyone? False. The microbiome is unique to each person, like a fingerprint. This is also why it is important to use cosmetics that respect and support it, such as those from the Terme di Comano line.
Conclusion: Balance, Care, and Prevention
In an era when skin is increasingly exposed to stress, environmental aggressions, and frenetic rhythms, caring for it means first and foremost restoring its natural balance. Treatments based on prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics don't just offer an aesthetic benefit: they represent a new frontier in skin wellness, where cosmetics work in harmony with skin biology.
Thanks to advanced dermatological research and the unique Thermal Water of Terme di Comano, the products in the Aqua+Tech line are specifically designed with this goal in mind: to support the microbiome, strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration, and guide every skin type, even the most sensitive, towards a visible and profound state of health.
Choosing intelligent and microbiome-friendly skincare means choosing respect, prevention, and listening to your skin.