It’s hard to believe, 80% of the population have been affected by the confidence- zapping skin problem that is acne at some point in their lives.
We’re always trying to understand skin and skin problems better here at SkinBase, so whenever we get a new insight into the possible causes we always want to share them with you.
For such a prevalent problem, relatively little is known about the cause of acne as a skin condition. Doctors previously believed the issue was caused by a number of different factors, such as hormone changes during puberty and pregnancy, poor diet, using greasy make -up and certain medicines, to name just a few.
Are hair follicles causing acne?
A recent, new study carried out by Richard Gallo, based at the University of California has turned traditional acne theories upside down – demonstrating an important link between the hair follicle and bacteria. BUT, we hear you say, ‘all skin is covered with a layer of bacteria but only some people develop acne’. So where is the connection?
Gallo suggests that harmless bacteria can become aggravated when blocked in certain oily hair follicles. But the crucial difference between acne sufferers and non sufferers is that not all hair follicles are equally as suffocating, therefore meaning not everyone develops acne.
When bacteria isn’t suffocating the hair follicles, it is beneficial to skin health, explaining why prescribed antibiotic treatment can prove ineffective for many.
Gallo and researchers are looking to continue their investigations to establish why some people have more acne prone skin than others, which could help further treatments and to gain a better understanding of the skin condition. Gallo’s findings could also in years to come, go one step further and prevent the onset of acne in the first place.
What must we as individuals take from all of this? The importance of a good skincare regime to keep blocked hair follicles at bay and preventing dreaded, and often long-lasting, breakouts. As well as treating your skin well through eating healthily, treatments such as microdermabrasion are a great way to address blocked skin and pores – which if Gallo’s research is proved correct, could be the answers to all your problems.
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Image:istock.com/VladimirFLoyd
