The scalp microbiome is one of the most discussed topics in trichological dermatology in recent years. Prebiotics and probiotics, until recently associated almost exclusively with gut health, are becoming key ingredients in professional hair care formulations. Hairswiss analyses the science behind this biotech revolution.
The Scalp Microbiome: What It Is and Why It Matters
The scalp is colonised by a complex ecosystem of micro-organisms — bacteria, fungi and yeasts — living in dynamic equilibrium on its surface. This ecosystem, the scalp microbiome, directly influences the health of the hair follicle, sebum production and the onset of conditions such as dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis and hair loss. The main actors include Malassezia spp. (yeast responsible for dandruff), Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis (protective commensal bacterium).
What Are Hair Prebiotics
Prebiotics are substrates that selectively nourish the beneficial micro-organisms of the microbiome. In hair products they are found mainly as inulin and FOS (fructooligosaccharides), beta-glucans (immunostimulating polysaccharides from oats or mushrooms), xylitol (inhibits Malassezia growth) and niacinamide (regulates sebum and reduces follicular inflammation).
What Are Hair Probiotics
Probiotics are living micro-organisms — or their lysates (inactivated fragments) — that, applied topically, support the balance of the skin microbiome. In cosmetic formulations, bacterial lysates or postbiotics are often preferred for their greater industrial stability. The most commonly used strains in trichology are Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and lysates of Vitreoscilla filiformis.
Clinical and Practical Benefits
Research shows that prebiotic/probiotic-based formulations can reduce the presence of Malassezia by 40–60% after 4 weeks of regular treatment, lower scalp inflammatory markers (IL-1α, TNF-α), improve hair shaft density and resilience, and reduce excess sebum production.
Professional Products with Pre/Probiotic Technology
Among the professional products integrating prebiotic technology and appreciated by Swiss professionals, two lines available on cliCHair stand out. The Gentle Relief Shampoo by Nika and its Gentle Relief Treatment are designed for sensitive and reactive scalps. The Total Balance Shampoo and Total Balance Treatment target microbiome rebalancing for oily or dandruff-prone scalps.
The Future: Postbiotics and Microbiome Personalisation
The most advanced frontier of research is moving towards postbiotics: metabolites produced by beneficial bacteria (organic acids, bacteriocins, enzymes, antimicrobial peptides) that exert biological effects even in the absence of live micro-organisms. They offer superior formulation stability — a direction that Hairswiss considers representative of the true future of professional trichology.