Is Beiersdorf Set to Transform Acne Treatment?

Acne has traditionally been treated with methods that are harsh on the skin.

Medicines such as Accutane carried severe side effects, including links to depression, birth defects and joint aches. Hormonal therapies and oral antibiotics also produced similar side effects that regularly come with these treatments when used in other medicinal areas.

In a bid to implement a fresh, less disruptive approach to managing this skin condition, which impacts an estimated 650 million people globally, Beiersdorf is set to release a range of acne management products containing TopiC.A, a patented cosmetic active ingredient based on two carefully selected skin-native probiotic strains.

Writing on LinkedIn, Vincent Warnery, CEO of Beiersdorf, explains, “For decades, managing acne-prone skin largely meant fighting bacteria. Today, science is taking a different approach: deepening our understanding of the distinct roles that different bacteria play within the skin's ecosystem and recognising that maintaining the right balance is what truly matters.”

Decades of research

Beiersdorf points out that decades of research have informed the development of its TopiC.A ingredient.

“Our research took a different path — to understand what diverse microorganisms do and [their] influence on skin and to recognise that it is the balance between strains and types that matters,” explains Dr Gitta Neufang, Chief Research & Development Officer at Beiersdorf, also writing on LinkedIn.

During the R&D process, “our teams conducted more than 120 microbiome studies, published over 25 scientific papers and secured more than 70 granted patents,” she says.

Dr Gitta also highlights how innovative approaches to acne management are deep-rooted in the company’s history.

She continues, “The essence of this innovation is rooted deep in our history. In 1894, Prof. Paul Gerson Unna, a leading dermatologist and a key figure in our company's founding, was the first to describe a bacterium associated with skin blemishes/acne-prone skin. More than 130 years later, our scientists turn that early observation into real-world innovation.”

Working with, not fighting bacteria

Essential to the product’s development is the principle that skin bacteria must be worked alongside –  not fought – for effective, safe acne treatment.

Vincent says: “People no longer want products that simply address visible signs. They want to better understand skin blemishes and increasingly expect solutions that work in harmony with their skin. At Beiersdorf, this direction reflects a belief that has guided us for a long time: we learn from the skin to care for the skin. 

“One of the most promising frontiers is the skin microbiome: billions of microorganisms that form an invisible ecosystem protecting our skin every day. When the skin microbiome becomes imbalanced, it can contribute to a range of skin conditions, including a tendency toward acne-prone skin.”

This approach, Vincent explains, “represents a fundamentally new approach: working in harmony with the skin's own biology to maintain a healthy ecosystem.”

A leader in skin care

As a global leader in skin care products, Beirsdorf is approaching this challenging skin condition with a wealth of dermatological experience.

Iconic global brands, including the world’s largest skin care brand NIVEA, Eucerin and La Prairie, sit within its portfolio.

Although not yet confirmed, TopiC.A is likely a product of Beiersdorf's Ski[N]ative probiotics technology platform, which underpins the company's microbiome-based skin care efforts. 

The platform traces back to Beiersdorf's 2018 partnership with, and 2022 acquisition of, Belgian biotech S-Biomedic, which the company says was acquired  “to push boundaries in skin research and unlock the full potential of the microbiome for skin care.”

“To be an undisputed authority in skin care, our ambition is to transform deep scientific understanding into solutions that make a meaningful difference in people's lives,” says Vincent of the company’s mission.