Impact of a Daily Application of an Omega-3 Monoglycerides Based Serum and Cream on the Skin Microbiota (COS-PBP-03)

Omega-3 fatty acids, and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in particular, are known to promote the resolution of inflammation, unlike omega-6 fatty acids, which are pro-inflammatory. The skin, the largest organ in the human body, receives a high proportion of omega-6 fatty acids because skincare products are primarily composed of vegetable oils rich in omega-6. This imbalance could be one of the causes of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. Conventional omega-3s must pass through the digestive tract to be activated as monoglycerides. Therefore, their use in topical formulations is not practical. However, the recent development of pre-activated omega-3 monoglycerides finally opens the possibility of introducing active omega-3 fatty acids into moisturizing products.

All subjects will receive the same treatment for a similar duration. A skin area with eczema lesions will be identified during the screening visit. Subjects will be asked to apply the serum and cream to the clean, targeted area at least once daily for fourteen (14) days. The baseline condition before treatment will serve as a control for the effects observed after treatment on the targeted area. A second eczema area treated with the patient's usual care will also serve as a control.

Both targeted eczema areas will be used to measure the main study parameters:

1. Quantify, by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), the four main bacteria of the skin microbiota (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Cutibacterium acnes, and Streptococcus pyogenes). Samples will be collected before the start of treatment (visit 1), as well as after one week (visit 2) and two weeks of treatment (visit 3).
2. This study will also aim to collect data on any potential adverse effects of the products.