Ex Vivo Assessment of Heat and Humidity Effects on Human Skin and Potential Protection by Kombucha Tea Extract

This study used an ex vivo human skin model to examine the effects of tropical conditions on skin and the protective potential of Kombucha tea extract. Tropical conditions caused significant epidermal thickening and disrupted the dermoepidermal junction (DEJ). Kombucha tea extract effectively counteracted these effects, preserving DEJ structure and maintaining epidermal homeostasis. The extract modulated signaling pathways and enhanced protein expression, suggesting its potential to protect against environmental stress-induced skin damage. However, the study's findings are preliminary, based on a single-donor model, and further research with larger cohorts is needed for confirmation.