Sodium hyaluronates applied in the face affects the diversity of skin microbiota in healthy people

Abstract Objective A healthy and stable microbiome has many beneficial effects on the host, while an unbalanced or disordered microbiome can lead to various skin diseases. Hyaluronic acid is widely used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries; however, specific reports on its effect on the skin microflora of healthy people have not been published. This study aimed to determine the effect of sodium hyaluronate on the facial microflora of healthy individuals. Methods Face of 20 healthy female volunteers between 18 and 24 years was smeared with sodium hyaluronate solution once per day. Cotton swabs were used to retrieve samples on days 0, 14, and 28, and high‐throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA was used to determine the changes in bacterial community composition. Results Facial application of HA can reduce the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, such as Cutibacterium and S. aureus , and increase the colonization of beneficial bacteria. Conclusion This is the first intuitive report to demonstrate the effect of hyaluronic acid on facial microflora in healthy people. Accordingly, sodium hyaluronate was found to have a positive effect on facial skin health.