Postbiotics

Bioactive compounds produced by microbiota bacteria during their metabolism, including short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, acetate), antimicrobial peptides, exopolysaccharides, vitamins and certain phenolic metabolites. Unlike probiotics (live bacteria) and prebiotics (fibres that feed them), postbiotics are chemically defined substances, stable at room temperature and without risk from live micro-organism administration. Research on skin postbiotics is expanding, particularly for atopic and reactive skin.