Associations Between Skin Microbiome and Metabolome in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis Patients With Scalp Involvement

This study examined the relationship between the skin microbiome and metabolome in 20 atopic dermatitis (AD) patients with scalp involvement compared to 16 healthy controls. Significant differences were observed in bacterial taxa and metabolites between lesional and non-lesional scalp skin of AD patients and healthy controls. Notably, Staphylococcus was more abundant, while Cutibacterium was less abundant in lesional skin compared to healthy controls. Metabolomic analysis revealed 33 decreased and 17 increased metabolites in lesional and non-lesional skin compared to healthy controls, with significant alterations in amino acid-related metabolism. The study suggests that specific changes in the microbiome and metabolome are associated with scalp involvement in AD, providing insights into its pathogenesis and potential management strategies. Despite the small sample size, the findings highlight complex interactions between skin microbiota, metabolites, and clinical parameters in AD pathogenesis.