MyMicrobiome Standard 40.10 – Infant Skin Microbiome

Especially for babies / toddlers it is of very great importance that the textiles used do not harm the child, as the skin microbiome is still developing. Exposure to sunlight, bacteria, fungi, but also mechanical influences such as friction from fabric and contact with chemicals must be withstood by a baby's skin, which until now has been completely free of germs.

A baby's key bacteria are different from those of an adult. We test diapers, swaddling cloths and special baby clothes, among other things.

A baby’s skin is ever-changing, but the presence of five key microbes are essential for an intact microbiome:

Lactobacillus crispatus

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Streptococcus mitis

Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum

Cutibacterium acnes

The certification procedure for Standard 40.10 Infant skin

The textile product goes through four test runs as part of the
"Microbiome-friendly" certification:

1. Quality test

The quality test ensures that the textile products are sterile, and our microbiological tests can be carried out with the skin microorganisms. Therefore, textiles are washed according to the manufacturers' instructions beforehand. A screening examines the occurrence of mesophilic and aerobic microorganisms. For decontamination, the products are UV-irradiated or autoclaved. Hygiene products are sterilized through UV light exposure.

2. Balance test

The balance between the most common skin microbe S. epidermidis and the harmful bacterium S. aureus should not be disturbed by the textile product. A co-culture with both bacterial strains is mixed with the textile for a certain time and then the ratio of the two microbes is compared with the untreated control group. This must not change in favor of S. aureus under the influence of the textile product.

3. Diversity test

The textile product to be tested is added to a co-culture of specific microbes typical for the infant skin. After a certain incubation period, the change in diversity among the different microorganisms is compared with the untreated control group. The diversity of the microbiome in terms of the most important key microbes must be maintained.

4. Vitality test

A microbiome-friendly textile product for infants should not undesirably influence the vitality of the individual microbes. This test simulates direct skin contact of the microbes - considered individually. The growth of the microorganisms is compared with an untreated control group and must neither be significantly reduced nor stimulated.