In today's society, acne is no longer just a problem for teenagers. Many adults also face the same problem. One of the main causes of this phenomenon is Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes). This bacterium is slow-growing, usually anaerobic, and is closely associated with the development of a variety of skin diseases. This article will take an in-depth look at the biology of C. acnes, how it causes acne, and its connection to adult acne.
C. acnes resides in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of human skin and mainly feeds on sebum secretions and surrounding cell debris, allowing it to thrive in the skin environment.
Cutibacterium acnes is a common commensal bacterium found on the skin of healthy adults, usually in such small numbers that it is almost unnoticeable. However, when sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, or hair follicles become blocked, C. acnes can multiply rapidly and may cause skin inflammation. This biological process surprisingly sheds light on why many adults continue to suffer from acne after puberty.
C. acnes develops in a similar way to teenage acne, but endocrine changes, stress, and lifestyle habits in adults can exacerbate the effects of this bacteria. When the sebaceous glands are overactive, or when the hair follicles are blocked, these bacteria will grow deep in the hair follicles and begin secreting various digestive enzymes to break down the sebum and obtain nutrients. At the same time, cell damage and accumulation of metabolic waste will trigger surrounding inflammation.
According to research, the growth of C. acnes can induce skin inflammation and become the most common cause of acne, affecting more than 45 million adults in the United States.
Due to this inflammation, adults' skin will experience a series of symptoms, such as acne, papules, and pustules, which are all related to the activity of C. acnes. Especially during adolescence and early adulthood, people's hormonal changes cause the activity of sebaceous glands to be more frequent. Therefore, although adults often expect to go through the stage of acne because of their adult status, they may still implicitly tolerate this physiological phenomenon without knowing the cause.
A common treatment for fighting C. acnes has long been the use of antibiotics, such as clindamycin and doxycycline. However, as resistance increases, many medical professionals are turning to treatments that combine other broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, such as benzoyl peroxide, and isotretinoin to treat severe or drug-resistant acne. .
Interestingly, research shows that C. acnes has shown a sudden increase in resistance to certain antibiotics, which presents doctors with new treatment challenges.
The causes of adult acne are often closely related to stress, diet, improper skin care products and other factors. For example, a diet high in sugar and fat may promote sebum production, while prolonged stress can trigger hormonal fluctuations that stir up C. acnes activity. Therefore, in addition to treatment, improving your lifestyle and mental state is crucial to managing acne in adults.
According to the understanding of C. acnes, the acne problem faced by adults is actually the result of a complex interweaving of biology and life factors. This bacterium plays an important but different role in the skin, and it is difficult to completely avoid the Slugfest that continues to occur on the skin. For every adult who has habitual acne, it is not only necessary to understand treatment strategies in a timely manner, but also pay attention to changes in lifestyle, in order to ultimately achieve the ideal skin condition. Have you ever thought about what factors in your life may affect your skin health?