There is nothing worse than having acne pop up at the most inconvenient moments. Acne vulgaris is the most common inflammatory skin disorder in the United States. A combination of factors may cause acne, and it’s hard to figure out the leading cause for a patient. However, recent research has made some exciting breakthroughs, which might be a game-changer in acne treatment.
What Could Be the Main Cause of Acne?
Six people with acne participated in new research just released in Science Translational Medicine. The participants were required to take a 90-day break from acne treatments, medicine, or hormone-related substances. As a result, they discovered that the cause of acne is fatty acids that come from skin cells.
The scientists discovered that connective tissue cells known as fibroblasts, which help build and maintain the structure of your skin, play an important role in acne outbreaks. Cutibacterium bacteria on your skin can cause the skin to get irritated when you have a breakout. Cells are transformed into fat cells through the interaction between bacteria and fibroblasts. Cathelicidin, a peptide with antibacterial properties, is released due to this process.
This means that acne is a natural consequence of your immune response to the Cutibacterium bacteria. The skin gets irritated and produces fatty acids and peptides to fight off the bacteria, but it leaves you with acne.
Acne was once considered to be caused by a buildup of sebum in the hair follicles. However, this study revealed that the cells beyond the hair follicle significantly suppress bacteria. Thanks to these new findings, acne therapy may have new avenues to explore. This is excellent news if your acne treatment hasn’t been working for you.
