Lactic Acid Bacteria and Lactic Acid for Skin Health and Melanogenesis Inhibition

Lactic acid bacteria are beneficial to human health. Lactic acid bacteria have wide applications in food, cosmetic and medicine industries due to being Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and a multitude of therapeutic and functional properties. Previous studies have reported the beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria, their extracts or ferments on skin health, including improvements in skin conditions and the prevention of skin diseases. Lipoteichoic acid isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum was reported to inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. In particular, lipoteichoic acid also exerted anti-photoaging effects on human skin cells by regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinase- 1. The oral administration of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and other lactic acid bacteria has been reported to inhibit the development of atopic diseases. Additionally, the clinical and histologic evidence indicates that the topical application of lactic acid is effective for depigmentation and improving the surface roughness and mild wrinkling of the skin caused by environmental photo-damage. This review discusses recent findings on the effects of lactic acid bacteria on skin health and their specific applications in skin-whitening cosmetics.