Skin microbiome changes in children varied with age and with atopic dermatitis (AD), a new study found. Researchers compared the microbial diversity of the cheek skin on children with or without AD aged 0-1 years in China, and sought to determine whether 4 types of skin-isolated bacteria could inhibit Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in vitro. They found:

• Bacterial diversity decreased significantly in skin with severe AD compared to healthy skin.
• 7 phyla had content >1%, 4 of which differed in AD.
• 38 genera had content >1%, 15 differed in AD.
• There were complex interactions between skin isolated bacteria and S. aureus which could inhibit S. aureus growth and biofilm formation in vitro.