The Future of Biotech in Professional Dermatology and Skin Barrier Care

In the second part of this interview, Max Stock, founder and CEO of Signum Biosciences and Epicutis Skincare, discussed the clinical applications of the brand’s Hydrobiome Serum, the importance of physician-guided skin care, and the growing influence of biotechnology and microbiome science in dermatology.

Stock emphasized that the Hydrobiome Serum was designed to support compromised skin barriers, making it particularly relevant in procedural dermatology and aesthetic medicine. Procedures that intentionally disrupt the epidermal barrier can leave skin vulnerable to irritation and imbalance during the healing process. He noted that maintaining microbial balance and minimizing inflammation are critical to optimizing post-procedural recovery and clinical outcomes. The serum’s formulation was intentionally kept simple, containing approximately 12 ingredients, while focusing on safety, tolerability, and microbiome support.

He also highlighted the company’s emphasis on ingredient sourcing and traceability. Stock explained that Epicutis sources ingredients exclusively from the US, Japan, and Europe, while manufacturing products only in the US and Japan. This focus on transparency and formulation quality, he said, is particularly important when products are applied after aesthetic procedures, when skin permeability may be increased.

WATCH PART 1 HERE

Stock further discussed why Epicutis prioritizes professional and medical distribution channels rather than direct-to-consumer retail strategies. He described the company’s philosophy that “skin care is health care,” arguing that patients benefit most when guided by dermatologists and skin care professionals rather than social media trends. He suggested that clinicians provide critical expertise in helping patients navigate an increasingly crowded skin care marketplace and predicted that more consumers will seek medically guided skin care experiences in the future.

Looking ahead, Stock predicted continued convergence between biotechnology and the beauty industry. He contrasted biotech-driven companies with traditional marketing-focused skin care brands, noting that biotechnology companies actively develop proprietary technologies through laboratory research rather than relying on existing ingredient combinations. He also identified microbiome science as a major future growth area, with expanding research expected to improve understanding of how microbial populations influence inflammation, aging, and skin disease. Stock concluded that younger consumers are increasingly demanding transparency, formulation quality, and science-backed products, trends he believes will continue to reshape the dermatology and skin care industries.

“We’re really committed to developing really great products,” Stock said. “We want to change the industry for the better, raise the bar on how companies are formulating these products.”