Physiology and Biochemistry of Skin and Skin Annexes + Microbiological Contamination and Controls
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide a detailed knowledge of physiological and biochemical processes involved in skin and skin annexes development and homeostasis and to provide knowledge of basic microbiology, manufacturing hygiene and product preservation.
The students will learn about the structure and functions of skin and skin annexes and will learn about the molecular pathways involved in skin development, homeostasis, repair, and aging. The knowledge acquired will help the students to understand how biological processes and environmental factors have the potential to influence skin and skin annexes response in functional terms, a relevant knowledge for cosmetics.
The students will learn about the structure and the function of the microorganisms and will familiarize with the physiological diversity of microorganisms. Particular attention will be given to pathogens that can contaminate cosmetics, and to the control of bacterial growth. Fundamental concepts on procedures to ensure manufacturing hygiene and role of preservation of cosmetics, risk of microbiological contamination and evaluation methods will be also offered to students. The course will also introduce the students to the skin microbiome and the main skin infectious diseases that can be the consequence of contaminated cosmetics.
The students will learn about the structure and functions of skin and skin annexes and will learn about the molecular pathways involved in skin development, homeostasis, repair, and aging. The knowledge acquired will help the students to understand how biological processes and environmental factors have the potential to influence skin and skin annexes response in functional terms, a relevant knowledge for cosmetics.
The students will learn about the structure and the function of the microorganisms and will familiarize with the physiological diversity of microorganisms. Particular attention will be given to pathogens that can contaminate cosmetics, and to the control of bacterial growth. Fundamental concepts on procedures to ensure manufacturing hygiene and role of preservation of cosmetics, risk of microbiological contamination and evaluation methods will be also offered to students. The course will also introduce the students to the skin microbiome and the main skin infectious diseases that can be the consequence of contaminated cosmetics.
Expected learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, the students will have acquired knowledge of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in human skin and skin annexes and will have acquired basic knowledge of the applications of microbiology in the cosmetic industry.
This basic knowledge will be functional for the development of cosmetic products and for the effective management and control of microbiological quality in cosmetics production.
This basic knowledge will be functional for the development of cosmetic products and for the effective management and control of microbiological quality in cosmetics production.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Physiology of the skin:
-Structure of the skin and its appendages.
-Functions of the skin and skin appendages (protective, sensory, excretory, thermoregulatory, synthetic).
-Eye, ocular epithelia and ocular appendages.
-Physiological effects of cosmetics in the various stages of life:
-Development.
-Aging.
-Breast feeding time.
-Tooth physiology
-Mouth physiology
-Skin microbiome.
Biochemistry of the skin:
-The Biochemistry of Beauty: key terms and concepts
-The skin barrier: structure and function
-Pigmentation and skin color
-Composition and biochemical characteristics of the skin
-The extracellular matrix (ECM)
-Epidermal lipid metabolism and metabolic pathways in skin homeostasis
-Role of nutrition for skin health: oral nutrition & topical supplementation
-Skin and vitamins
-Aging, oxidative stress and skin photoaging
-Inflammaging and skin aging
-Skin, air pollution and atmospheric skin aging
-Skin as an endocrine organ
-Sex differences in the skin
-Estrogens, menopause and skin health
-Circadian rhythms in the skin: relevance for skin health and for cosmetics
Microbiological contamination and controls:
- History of cosmetic microbiology
- Basic microbiology
- Physiology and biochemistry of microorganisms
Growth
Diversity
- Harmful microorganisms in cosmetics
Gram-negatives, Gram-positives, Fungi, Yeasts
- Skin microbiota and cutaneous diseases
Composition of the skin microbiota in health, initial colonization and population shifts, diversity
- Cleaning, sanitization, and sterilization
Methods for controlling the microbial growth
- Microbial environment of the manufacturing process
Microbiological control of raw materials
Control of microbial contamination during manufacturing
- Antimicrobial preservative efficacy and microbial content testing
Risk of Bio-deterioration of Cosmetics
PAO (period after opening) definition and expiration date
Current preservative efficacy test methods
Comparison of methods
- Common cosmetic preservatives
Antimicrobial mechanisms and bacterial response
Laboratory activities:
- Plating efficiency.
- Filtration systems.
- Qualitative and quantitative analyses of most common cosmetics contaminating pathogens.
-Structure of the skin and its appendages.
-Functions of the skin and skin appendages (protective, sensory, excretory, thermoregulatory, synthetic).
-Eye, ocular epithelia and ocular appendages.
-Physiological effects of cosmetics in the various stages of life:
-Development.
-Aging.
-Breast feeding time.
-Tooth physiology
-Mouth physiology
-Skin microbiome.
Biochemistry of the skin:
-The Biochemistry of Beauty: key terms and concepts
-The skin barrier: structure and function
-Pigmentation and skin color
-Composition and biochemical characteristics of the skin
-The extracellular matrix (ECM)
-Epidermal lipid metabolism and metabolic pathways in skin homeostasis
-Role of nutrition for skin health: oral nutrition & topical supplementation
-Skin and vitamins
-Aging, oxidative stress and skin photoaging
-Inflammaging and skin aging
-Skin, air pollution and atmospheric skin aging
-Skin as an endocrine organ
-Sex differences in the skin
-Estrogens, menopause and skin health
-Circadian rhythms in the skin: relevance for skin health and for cosmetics
Microbiological contamination and controls:
- History of cosmetic microbiology
- Basic microbiology
- Physiology and biochemistry of microorganisms
Growth
Diversity
- Harmful microorganisms in cosmetics
Gram-negatives, Gram-positives, Fungi, Yeasts
- Skin microbiota and cutaneous diseases
Composition of the skin microbiota in health, initial colonization and population shifts, diversity
- Cleaning, sanitization, and sterilization
Methods for controlling the microbial growth
- Microbial environment of the manufacturing process
Microbiological control of raw materials
Control of microbial contamination during manufacturing
- Antimicrobial preservative efficacy and microbial content testing
Risk of Bio-deterioration of Cosmetics
PAO (period after opening) definition and expiration date
Current preservative efficacy test methods
Comparison of methods
- Common cosmetic preservatives
Antimicrobial mechanisms and bacterial response
Laboratory activities:
- Plating efficiency.
- Filtration systems.
- Qualitative and quantitative analyses of most common cosmetics contaminating pathogens.
Prerequisites for admission
A minimum of 6 ECTS acquired in the BIO10, BIO11 and BIO19 disciplinary fields, as required to be eligible for admission to the Master's degree programme in CosmIS.
Teaching methods
The course consists of two units: Physiology and Biochemistry of Skin and Skin Annexes (5ETCs/40 hours, first semester of first year) and Microbiological Contamination and Controls (3ETCs/24 hours- of face lectures + 1ETC/16 hours of laboratory, second semester of first year).
The course is designed to deliver lectures in a hybrid manner: in the first part of the course, lectures will be delivered asynchronously with video lectures for a total of 12 hours; the second part of the course will consist of synchronous face-to-face lectures (for a total of 52 hours) and laboratory activities (for a total of 16 hours).
The online and face-to-face lessons will be supplemented with innovative teaching tools (e.g. Wooclap).
The course is designed to deliver lectures in a hybrid manner: in the first part of the course, lectures will be delivered asynchronously with video lectures for a total of 12 hours; the second part of the course will consist of synchronous face-to-face lectures (for a total of 52 hours) and laboratory activities (for a total of 16 hours).
The online and face-to-face lessons will be supplemented with innovative teaching tools (e.g. Wooclap).
Teaching Resources
Physiology: Silverthorn, Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach; Carbone, Aicardi, Maggi, Fisiologia dalle molecole ai sistemi integrati.
Biochemistry: Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry; Maccarrone, Fondamenti di biochimica umana.
Microbiological contamination and controls: Brock Biology of Microorganisms; Orth, Cosmetic and Drug Microbiology.
Digital material: Ariel and Learn websites with lesson slides and videos.
Iconographic material, including open access papers downloadable from public databanks (es. PubMed).
Biochemistry: Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry; Maccarrone, Fondamenti di biochimica umana.
Microbiological contamination and controls: Brock Biology of Microorganisms; Orth, Cosmetic and Drug Microbiology.
Digital material: Ariel and Learn websites with lesson slides and videos.
Iconographic material, including open access papers downloadable from public databanks (es. PubMed).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will tackle all the parts of the program and the student should demonstrate to have acquired the basic concepts of any subject. The exam consists of written test in a multi choice fashion and oral tests. Assessment will be based on the degree of knowledge of the course topics, property of language, critical thinking skills and capability to organize a talk in a logical manner.
BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 2
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 3
BIO/19 - MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 4
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 3
BIO/19 - MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 4
Single bench laboratory practical: 16 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Lessons: 64 hours