RESEARCH & INNOVATION
SKIN DEEP SECRET
Does good skin start in the gut ?
BY HALLIE JACOBS
IT ’ S NOT ONLY A RITE OF PASSAGE for the teenage face , but a nuisance that can recur long after adolescence . From embarrassing to painful , acne is nothing new , and up to now neither are its treatments . But a Rady School of Management grad is bringing UC San Diego technology to the fight .
Dermala , a new startup led by Lada Rasochova , MBA ’ 08 , is not your average consumer dermatology company . Dermala is unique in that it advances treatments for skin conditions using the human microbiome — the collection of all microbes that live on and in our bodies . And while there are plenty of microbes to reckon with on the skin ’ s surface , the gut is the microbial ground zero , and it may be the key to a clear complexion .
“ The microbiome is very important for our health . When our body ’ s microbiome gets disrupted it typically results in a disease , including skin diseases ,” Rasochova says . “ When the microbiome is brought back into balance , health can be restored .”
This means a whole new approach for conditions like acne , eczema , psoriasis and other skin diseases that affect more than 85 million Americans and almost a billion people globally . Currently Dermala ’ s focus is acne , with microbiomebased products like topical treatments that inhibit acne-causing bacteria and promote those beneficial to skin , and oral probiotics that work in the gut to create an overall environment less conducive to breakouts .
The company sees even more progress on the horizon by bringing personalized data to the mix — in addition to topical and oral treatments , it plans to provide customers with microbiome analysis and a mobile app to track their treatment progress . By analyzing an individual ’ s unique skin and gut microbiome , Dermala will use machine learning to optimize the treatments and fit the specific needs of individual customers .
“ Most consumer dermatology products are developed for an average customer ,” says Rasochova . “ But by using data analytics , we can optimize the treatment regimen and fine-tune the outcomes .”
Dermala is a resident of JLABS , the Johnson & Johnson Innovation incubator that supports healthcare startups .
Johnson & Johnson and Dermala also announced a partnership in 2018 to collaborate on technology development . Rasochova credits her team for being able to expand the technology even as she serves as the executive director of the California Institute for Innovation and Development at Rady School .
Ultimately Dermala aims to tackle other skin issues , like eczema , and eventually produce anti-aging products based on achieving microbiome balance . But for now the target is acne , and though it may be a foe for young and old alike , it ’ s one that will soon get a firm punch in the gut .
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