Acne may be hereditary and it also depends on the way your treat your skin, but new studies have shown there’s another reason why some people get zits and others don’t. Find out more about the way one type of skin bacteria may be protecting some people against acne.
There are plenty of reasons why some get zits while others enjoy a flawless complexion. Acne in adults has a hereditary component that can make it become a problem even after puberty and some people simply don’t know how to take care of their skin.
When you’re doing all the right things, from using the right cosmetics on your oily or sensitive skin, to making sure you don’t spread bacteria by popping zits or rubbing your skin, the answer to the question “Why some people get zits and others don’t?” may be found in the bacteria itself.
Acne Bacteria: Good vs Bad
New research into Propionibacterium acnes, a common bacteria associated with acne, shows there are different strains of this microorganism and some may even protect the skin against acne.
A study conducted at UCLA with the help of researches in Los Angeles and St. Louis shows that people who get less acne have a “good” strain of the bacteria, which actually protects the skin from the more harmful ones.
The answer to the old question of “Why do some people break out?” may be found in these different types of bacteria. Using a special genetic marker to identify the strains of bacteria, researchers have realized that acne was a bigger problem for people who lacked a certain type of Propionibacterium acnes from their skin, while zits and pimples were found less common for people who showed signs of the bacteria.
“We suspect that this strain contains a natural defense mechanism that enables it to recognize attackers and destroy them before they infect the bacterial cell”, explained the UCLA researchers.
With this knowledge, it’s not hard to imagine special creams and acne treatments that either introduce this type of bacteria on the skin or simply kill off all the others, which cause acne more often.
Research in the field of acne relief has slowed down in the past decades, so this new research not only answers the question of why some people get zits and others don’t, it also offers hope for many people struggling with acne. In the most severe cases, even antibiotics don’t work against acne and the last resort, Accutane (isotretinoin) can have strong side effects.
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