An effective algae against acne discovered by researchers from Ifremer in Nantes

It is an algae that could well change the lives of thousands of teenagers and adults affected by acne. Already used in oncology, “Skeletonema marinoi” could have a second life and be diverted in the form of a cream or gel to be applied to the skin. An extract of this micro-algae has just been patented by Ifremer in Nantes, with the help of the University of La Rochelle, the CNRS and the University Hospital of Nantes.

Very common in the Atlantic, it has the particularity of containing molecules that can be photoactivated. Exposed to light for a few minutes, these pigments act against the bacteria responsible for acne. “Once these molecules are excited, they have the particularity of transferring their energy to their environment, and it is this transfer that allows them to have an action on bacteria”. describes Jean-Baptiste Berard, from the algae physiology and biotechnology laboratory at Ifremer in Nantes.

Cultivated in the laboratory, the microalgae was multiplied then concentrated and dried to extract the active ingredients. This solution could be incorporated into a cream or serum. “The idea is to put this cream on the areas to be treated and then to activate its compounds, in natural or artificial light, to have an action against bacteria.“, explains the researcher Jean-Baptiste Berard. Natural active ingredients that kill bacteria but also neutralize the secretion of sebum, this oily substance of the skin also responsible for pimples.

An alternative to the use of antibiotics or prescribed retinoids in the case of severe forms of acne. For the moment, the in-vitro tests are more than conclusive. They had to be confirmed by clinical studies. Researchers and cosmetics manufacturers hope for commercialization within two to three years.