The study published in Dermatology and Therapy examined the effects of VeMico’s postbiotic formulation, VMK223, on skin health in 29 healthy women aged 40–55. The UK team, with collaborators from Spain and Italy, found that supplementation led to significant reductions in wrinkle depth, pore appearance, acne severity, and melanin levels, while improving skin hydration and elasticity.
Jelena Vulevic, CEO of VeMico and co-author, emphasized that the consistent improvements across multiple skin health metrics suggest that the treatment affects fundamental biological processes rather than isolated parameters. The most notable improvements were observed between weeks 8 and 12, achieved with a relatively low dosage without topical application.
The study highlights a gap in existing research, noting a lack of published studies on beauty-from-within and postbiotics showing objective skin improvements. Vulevic hypothesized that the results might be linked to the gut-skin axis, where postbiotics enhance intestinal barrier integrity and modulate inflammation, positively impacting skin health.
In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants consumed VMK223 (500 mg) or a placebo for 12 weeks after a two-week run-in phase without probiotics. Measurements taken at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 showed that those taking VMK223 experienced greater improvements in various skin parameters compared to the placebo group. Limitations of the study included its small sample size and short duration, suggesting the need for more comprehensive future studies to understand the pathways involved.
The findings support the potential of postbiotics as a strategy for enhancing skin health. For more information, refer to the study in Dermatology and Therapy.
